News Analysis India

Tag: Ramban

  • Hyderpora encounter: Despite court order, body not exhumed from Handwara graveyard, alleges kin of slain youth

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  Even a week after Jammu and Kashmir High Court order, the administration has not yet exhumed the body of slain Ramban youth Amir Magray to hand it over to the family for burial, said his family and lawyer, who are contemplating further legal action. 

    Amir was among four persons killed in the November 15, 2021 encounter in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar. 

    Amir’s father Mohammad Latief Magray said the administration has not so far implemented the May 27 High Court order, which had ordered the exhumation of his son’s body from a Wadder Payeen graveyard in Handwara in north Kashmir, about 100 km from Srinagar.

    ALSO READ: Family of youth killed in Hyderpora encounter moves HC to seek return of son’s body

    According to police, a Pakistani militant Haider Bhai, his associate Amir (from Ramban), OGW Dr Mudasir Gul and businessman Altaf Bhat were killed in the encounter. Police buried the bodies of all four in a graveyard in Handwara but the bodies of Srinagar residents Altaf and Dr Mudasir were later exhumed and handed over to their families for burial.

    Latief said they got justice from the court after six months but now the administration is delaying handing over the body to them for proper burial.

    “I have submitted the copy of the court order in the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Ramban a few days back.  However, there has been no response from their side so far,” he said.

    On May 27, J&K High Court ordered the exhumation of Amir’s body of Amir and directed authorities to make appropriate arrangements for transportation of the dead body to his native village for burial in his native graveyard in accordance with the traditions, religious obligations and religious faith.  It also ordered J&K government to pay Rs 5 lakh to Amir’s family if the body is highly putrefied and not in deliverable state.

    Latief said if Amir’s body is not handed over to them in the next few days, then they would consider further legal action.

    Latief’s counsel Deepika Rajawat said there is no logic for the government not to exhume the body and hand it over to his family as the government has not filed any appeal. 

    “There is a court order asking the government to exhume the body and hand it over to the family as soon as possible. They should have done it by now. They should have shown respect to the court order,” she said.

    Rajawat said the administration is forcing them to go for contempt proceedings. “It is the measure available with us and we will definitely exhaust it if the body is not exhumed and handed over to the family”.

  • Hyderpora encounter: Prohibitory orders imposed in parts of JK’s Ramban

    By PTI

    BANIHAL/JAMMU: Prohibitory orders banning the gathering of five or more people at one place were imposed in some villages of Ramban district on Wednesday, following the death of one of its residents in an encounter in Hyderpora area of Srinagar. The move comes apparently to thwart any protest by the affected family.

    According to police, Mohammad Amir of Famrote village in Ramban was a militant and was killed along with his Pakistani accomplice in the Monday evening encounter in Hyderpora, where an illegal call centre and a terror hideout were allegedly being run.

    Two civilians – Altaf Bhat and Mudassir Gul — were also killed in the firing, triggering angry reaction from their family who claimed they were innocent and not linked to militancy.

    Amir’s father Latief Magray also refuted the Jammu and Kashmir police’s claim that his son was a militant and appealed to the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to provide “justice to his family” and also return the body of his son for a proper burial.

    In an apparent move to scuttle protests by Amar’s family, Ramban Additional District Magistrate Harbans Lal Sharma ordered the imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Famrote village along with Sangaldan and Seripura from 9 am Wednesday till further orders.

    “The Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban shall ensure the implementation of this order in letter and spirit,” the order said.

    Magray, who had reportedly killed a militant with bare hands in his village over 15 years ago, said he would continue his struggle for “justice” for his slain son.

    “If they have any proof of his involvement in militancy, show it to me. I know he was innocent,” Magray said, asking “if this was the reward for being a nationalist”.