Srinagar: The police has ruled out allegations of chemical weapon use by government, leading to killing of five militants in Bandipora district of north Kashmir on September 20 this year.
In a statement submitted to SHRC, the police has stated government forces comprising police and army
used LMG, AK-47, INSAs, sniper and IED against militants in Bandipora.
“During entire operation no weapon was used as alleged neither the forces were possing any chemical weapon,” the SSP Bandipora said, adding, “LMG, sniper rifles, INSAS rifle and IED were used,” the SSP said.
The SSP said the militants opened fire on forces but the forces first evacuated civilians stuck in the compound where militants were hiding. “In the encounter all five militants were killed.”
The report was filed by the SSP in response to the directions by SHRC on a petition by rights activist Ahsan Untoo, pointing to reports that the bodies recovered after the gunfight were mutilated beyond recognition.
The petitioner had stated that using chemical weapon was the “most heinous crime” and that “it was not for the first time that such weapons had been used by the forces”.
He said it was now the responsibility of the doctors to find out as to “what chemicals were used by the forces that tore up body parts of the militants killed in Bandipora”.
“Using any chemical to kill a human is a grave war crime and has been banned by the world community,” he had said.
While the army had claimed that the deceased militants were foreigners, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin said they were Kashmiris. After Hizb chief’s statement, seven families claimed the deceased were their kin, prompting the police to take DNA samples of the claimants and the deceased for forensic testing. The forensic report was awaited.
