National Conference on Tuesday demanded a time-bound, impartial probe into the allegations leveled by the Rajouri-based families of three missing laborers, who as per unverified reports were killed in a gunfight in Shopian, reported a local news agency, Global News Service (GNS).
In a joint statement to the media, Members of Parliament, Muhammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, while expressing concern over the claims of the families said that the statements made by the family are very important in unraveling the truth behind the whole incident and therefore a thorough, independent and time-bound probe is needed.
The families are alleging that their missing relatives were working as laborers and had left Rajouri for Shopian on 16 July. The father of 25-year-old Ibrar Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf, told The Kashmir Walla, that his son “with [Imtiyaz and 18-year-old Ibrar] and last called on the evening of 17 July to tell us he reached the place.” Since then, he had not contacted the family, he claimed.
On 10 August, Mr. Ali said he received the missing complaint filed by the kins. However, the family identified three men from the photographs, allegedly of the men killed by the army in Shopian on 18 July and passed off as militants, on social media.
The unionist party added that if the family’s claims are true then the forbearance towards such extra-judicial killings in a democratic country like India was shocking and reflective of the culture of impunity.
The statement further read: “The entire incident stands mystified due to the diverse versions of the security forces and families of the missing youth. It is highly excruciating to see innocent people losing their precious lives and their blood being spilled. Such incidents will undoubtedly not help the situation become any better; such incidents only enrage people and leave perpetual wounds on them. Only an impartial and time bound inquiry into the matter will reveal the circumstances revolving around the three missing boys. The incident has evoked widespread distress throughout J&K.”
“The tall claims of GOI have remained confined to just talks. Contrarily what good was achieved in ushering an era of peace and development by the democratic forces in J-K post 1996 was reversed on 5th of August last year,” the statement added. “The security situation in Kashmir has deteriorated to an extent that nobody seems to feel safe anymore. To add to these insecurities is total lack of accountability on ground. There is no semblance of good administration.” (GNS)
