Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti Sunday claimed an FIR has been registered against the father of an alleged militant, who was killed in an encounter in Parimpora, Srinagar, last year.
Athar Mushtaq, along with Ajaz Maqbool Ganai and Zubair Ahmad Lone, were killed in an encounter with security forces on 31 December 2020. The police had said while they were not listed as terrorists in their records, two of them had “radical thoughts”.
According to Mufti, the police have now booked Athar’s father, Mushtaq Wani, for allegedly demanding the body of his son.
“After losing his son in an alleged fake encounter, Athar Mushtaq’s father has been slapped with an FIR for demanding his dead body. His crime was to stage a peaceful protest. The inhabitants of Naya Kashmir can’t even question a callous admin & have been reduced to living corpses,” Mufti tweeted Sunday.
Speaking to ThePrint, Wani said, “After Friday prayers, we noticed the Deputy Superintendent of Police was outside. We were just a few people there and I raised slogans demanding the body of my slain son. I thought the DSP will hear my plea and maybe would brief his seniors that I am continuing with my demand.”
“Later on, the Molvi Sahab of the mosque was summoned at the police station along with some other residents. He was detained there and the elders were informed that eight more individuals have been booked including me and my two brothers,” he added.
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FIR registered under UAPA, other IPC sections
According to a police officer, who wished to remain unnamed, an FIR has been registered against seven individuals from Pulwama, including Wani.
The FIR was filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The seven Pulwama residents have been accused of “organising illegal processions after the Friday prayers”.
ThePrint reached Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Mishra via calls for a comment but they did not pick up or revert.
The families of the three victims have been protesting against the authorities and have been demanding the release of their bodies. They have also rejected the police version that the youths killed in the encounter in Srinagar were militants and have accused the police of staging the encounter.
Waiting for his body, Wani has also dug a grave for his son.
(With inputs from PTI)
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