Hyderpora Killings: SIT gives clean chit to security forces

SRINAGAR, Dec 28: Giving a clean chit to the security forces in the Hyderpora killings, Jammu and Kashmir police today said that a foreign militant and his associate Amir Magray had been staying with the foreigner in the room of Dr Mudasir Gul.

According to news agency KNO, Police said that the local youth Amir Magray was a militant and had lied about the presence of foreign militant in the building. They also said that the building owner was made a human shield by foreign militant who got killed in a cross-fire. 

KNO reported that these details were given by DIG Central Kashmir Sujit Kumar Singh who was heading the Special Investigation Team, probing the incident during a press conference at police control room (PCR). 

While giving a detailed presentation about the investigations carried out into the Hydeprora encounter, he said that the CCTV footage and other evidences show that building owner Altaf was used as a human shield by the foreign militant Bilal Bhai, who was living in Dr Mudasir Gul’s chamber along with Amir Magray. 

The DIG, who was heading the SIT into the Hyderpora encounter, said that CCTV footage shows that Dr Mudasir Gul was traveling with the foreign militant in his vehicle in Srinagar city. “The footage and other evidence show that Amir Magray had accompanied the foreign militant during Jamalata Srinagar attack. Amir would often travel to Bandipora and Gurez, an angle which is still under investigation,” DIG Sujit Kumar Singh said, according to KNO. 

He said that prima-facie evidence shows that Dr Mudasir Gul was shot dead by the foreign militant on the directions “possibly from across.” “The investigations reveal that building owner Altaf Bhat was made human shield by foreign militant and that he was killed in a crossfire,” said the DIG, who was flanked by Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh and IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar. 

He said that Amir Magray was a militant. “Two pistols and four magazines were recovered from the encounter site,” the DIG said. He said that the family of the building owner hasn’t given them proper reply as to who was living on the rent, what was their rent payment system, rent deed etc. “There are no satisfactory details from Altaf’s family,” he said. 

A Pakistani militant and three other persons were killed in Hyderpora in Srinagar on November 15 and police claimed that all the slain men had links to militancy. The families of the three had, however, claimed that they were innocent and had alleged foul play, prompting the police to order the inquiry.
“Our investigation so far has revealed that Dr Mudasir Gul was killed by the foreign militant hiding inside the building as his body was recovered from the attic. The security forces did not go to the attic at all during searches or subsequent operation, ” head of the SIT, DIG Sujith K Singh, according to PTI. 

“Mohammad Altaf Bhat (building owner) and Amir were killed in the crossfire with government forces as they were used as a human shield by the foreign militant. It is substantiated by the fact the Altaf fell (after being hit by bullets) outside the door, while Amir had managed to run few more steps and the foreign militant’s body was found 83 feet away,” he said. 

The officer said besides examining the CCTV footage and call detail records, the SIT has also examined more than 20 witnesses so far. “Statements of six of these witnesses have been recorded before the magistrate at well,” he added. 

The officer said Bhat had volunteered to go inside as “he was very sure that there was no one hiding inside. At no point of time did any of them tell the security forces about the presence of the militant inside or seek any help, ” he added. 

On Amir’s involvement, Singh said the recoveries made in the building like codeine bottles and winter apparel pointed to the existence of a hideout.
“We have found out that Amir was frequently visiting Bandipora. Why would someone visit Bandipora so frequently when he had fled that place in 2008?” he asked.

“We found a dongle from the body of the foreign militant. The location of the device was at Jamalatta on 14th November where a firing incident took place,” he said.

Regarding the magisterial probe ordered by the union territory government, Inspector General of Police Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar said the inquiry was already complete. “That probe has been completed and the report has been submitted to the government four days ago. The government has directed the District Magistrate to place the report before the judicial magistrate concerned,” he added, according to PTI.