JK killing: Guv relents

Srinagar: While the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a magisterial inquiry into Monday’s controversial “encounter” in Srinagar, the demand for the return of dead bodies of civilians has gained momentum, with mainstream political parties hitting the roads in Srinagar on Thursday. J&K LG’s office in the morning ordered a magisterial inquiry to be done by a senior-level officer, into the encounter at Srinagar’s Hyderpora on Monday evening that left four dead including a Pakistani militant. The encounter has triggered a massive controversy in the valley, with families of the three slain rejecting the police claims. “A magisterial inquiry by an officer of ADM rank...govt will take suitable action as soon as the report is submitted in a timebound manner.JK admin reiterates the commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians & it will ensure there is no injustice,” the JK LG’s office tweeted. By evening, an order issued by Srinagar’s District Magistrate said the “inquiry officer shall submit his report within a period of 15 days.” The LG’s announcement of a probe followed the Wednesday night raid by J&K Police personnel at the Srinagar’s Press enclave to evict the family members of the slain civilians who were staging a sit-in demanding since morning. The family members were detained and released later. As the videos of the police removing the protesters forcibly, went viral on social media in the valley, triggering a fresh outrage on Thursday, the demand for the dead bodies has grown louder. The J&K Police which is facing questions over Monday’s operation on Thursday afternoon held a meeting with the family members of the slain civilians. Sources told NewsTrail that the family members were called to meet the senior J&K police officers at Police Control Room in Srinagar in the afternoon. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Peoples Democratic Party President on Thursday morning said that she was placed under house arrest. Hours later as the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration(PAGD)- the alliance of several parties in Kashmir, held a meeting at the residence of Srinagar MP Farooq Abdullah, the leaders rejected the LG’s magisterial probe, and instead demanded a “credible judicial inquiry” into the killings. Even the J&K government has announced a probe, right activists say that every encounter has to be probed, as per SC guidelines. By Thursday, National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah also staged a sit-in protest near his Srinagar residence demanding bodies be returned to the families.