SRINAGAR: Massive search operation continued for the third consecutive day today in the dense woods in the frontier district of Kupwara, where Army claimed to have killed a militant in an encounter on August 22.
However, locals contested the Army claim and said the youth, who killed was a final year student Shahid Bashir Mir, resident of Daril Tarathpora, who was missing since August 21 evening.
Police has ordered an inquiry and also confirmed the deceased was a civilian and was not involved in any militant activities.
Meanwhile, the District Magistrate (DM), Kupwara, has ordered suspension of class work in all the higher secondary schools and colleges of the district today.
The Army launched a search operation in the woods at Hapruha in the frontier district of Kupwara on August 22 morning following a tip off about the presence of militants. Later, a defence ministry spokesman claimed that an unidentified militant was killed in the encounter.
In a tweet, the Northern Command on August 22 said, “#IndianArmy One terrorist killed by security forces in Haphruda. Operations in progress @adgpi .”
However, there was no contact with militants in the woods though operation by security forces continued.
People in Daril Tarathpora in Kupwara hit the streets last evening after the family members of the deceased identified him as Shahid, who was studying in Government Degree College( GDC), Handwara.
Raising slogans against the security forces, the demonstrators demanded action against those responsible for the ‘killing’ of Shahid in a fake encounter.
Entire area, including adjacent villages are observing strike today against his death.
Police has also confirmed that Shahid was a civilian who had gone missing from his house on August 21 evening. A case has been registered in this connection, police said, adding it will be investigated how he had reached the forest area.
Police said that in the FIR filed by Army, Shahid was also not declared as a militant.
The family members of Shahid said that he left home on August 21 evening to buy cigarettes from a local shop but did not return.
After a long search, finally a missing report was filed in the police station next morning, they said. Later they were informed that his body was in an Army camp at Vilgam.
Police said that Army had launched massive search operation in the nearby forests during which as per Army exchange of fire took place which continued for about two hours.
However, after some time Army informed that an unidentified body was lying in the area. Later, Army was requested to bring the body to the police station.
Police confirmed that father of the deceased had filed a missing report in the police station. (AGENCIES)
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