Srinagar, Aug 11: Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday announced it will carry out DNA sampling for matching the same with three militants killed in encounter in Shopian on July 18, a day after three families from Rajouri claimed that their kin were missing since the gunfight in the south Kashmir district.
In a statement issued here, the police also announced that it will also “investigate all other aspects as per the law in due course of time.”
“The district Police Rajouri have been approached by some families yesterday claiming that their kins had gone to Shopian for labour work and contacted on phone on July 17. As per families when they didn’t contacted them after July 17 they lodged missing report at PP Peeru on 10/8/2020,” a police spokesman said, adding, “Meanwhile Social media reported that the militants killed in an operation at Shopian on July 18 are reportedly their kins.”
The spokesman said that apropos to its earlier press note by it regarding the operation, Police had “provided sufficient time for identification of dead bodies at PCR Kashmir Srinagar.” However, he said, the bodies could not be identified and they were buried in presence of Magistrate after conducting post-mortem and lifting DNA samples.
“Taking cognisance of the claim by the families and media reports, Shopian Police will examine the claimants and carry out DNA sampling for matching purpose. Besides identification, Police will also investigate all other aspects as per the law in due course of time.”
Meanwhile, the spokesman said, Army has also taken notice of the family and social media claims regarding the operation and “initiated investigations.”
On July 18, police in a statement had said that three militants were killed in gunfight with joint team of police, army and CRPF in Shopian district on an input by army.
“On a specific input by 62RR about presence of (militants) in village Amshipora area, an operation was launched by them in the area,” a police spokesperson had said.
During search, he had said, the militants fired upon Army and encounter started. “Later on police and CRPF also joined. During encounter three unidentified militants were killed,” he had said in the statement, adding, “Bodies of all the killed three (militants) were retrieved from the site of encounter.” However, he said, the identification and group affiliation of the slain was being ascertained.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter,” he said.
All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other militancy-related incidents, he had said.
“The bodies have been sent to Baramulla for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including collection of their DNA,” he had said.
He had said a case FIR No. 42/2020 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Hirpora and investigation has been initiated into the matter.
