More than a month has passed after his tragic killing, Amir Magray’s family is worried about the deteriorating health of his mother, Mubeena Begum. She has to be taken to the doctor almost every day as she refuses to eat. The family was denied Amir’s dead body for the final rites.
“Every morning, as his mother gets up early in the morning, tears start rolling down her eyes as she repeats, ‘Muje Apne bete ka chehra dikhao’ (Show me the face of my son),” Amir’s father, Latif Magray, told The Kashmiriyat over the phone.
Latif Magray said that it was unfortunate that all his life, he fought against militancy and one day, his own son was killed in a controversial ‘gunfight’ at Hyderpora, Srinagar and was labelled as a militant.
“‘Woh Bechara Toh Mazdoor Tha’ (The poor thing was a labourer). Even if, as the police claims, he was an Over Ground Worker (O.G.W.), how is not handing over his dead body to the family for the final rites justified?” Lateef said in a low voice.
In an operation on November 15, the Government Forces had killed Amir Lateef Magray along with Mohammad Altaf Bhat and dentist-turned-businessman Mudasir Gul. The police had said that Amir and the Pakistani militant killed in the firing were militants, while Mudasir and Altaf were their associates.
Mohammed Altaf Bhat was the owner of the house where the gunfight took place, and Gul was his tenant, Amir worked as an office boy for Mudasir’s office, the families say.
The Inspector-General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vijay Kumar had expressed regret about Bhat’s killing but said that he would be counted as a harbourer of militants as he had tenants and not informed the police about them.
In a visible change of statement, later the IGP said that Altaf was a civilian who was killed in cross firing during the encounter.
The families of Dr Mudasir and Altaf Bhat staged protests demanding the dead bodies of the duo claiming their innocence after which the Lieutenant Governor order a probe into the incident
On December 8, Lateef Magray met the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, at Jammu to enquire about the progress on the investigation of the case. Lateef was assured that within two days investigation will be initiated. “Now it has been over a month, nobody has come to us. We need nothing, but only Amir’s body,” Latif Magray said to The Kashmiriyat.
Order of Magisterial Inquiry
After five days of the controversial Hyderpora, Srinagar ‘gunfight’, the Governor ordered a magisterial probe, and Addition District Magistrate Srinagar, Kurshid Ahmed was appointed as investigation officer (IO) for the probe.
“There would be a magisterial inquiry into the shootout and the report would be submitted in 15 days. The JK administration reiterates its commitment to the lives of innocent civilians and there would be no injustice,” the official said.
The families of the slain expressed dismay over the progress of the investigation. Even after one month having passed, no officials have met them to record their statement, the families said.
Saima Bhat– who has been at the forefront of the battle for justice for her uncle, Mohammed Altaf, is a senior journalist. Expressing anguish over the magisterial probe, Saima speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that the family was not satisfied with the magisterial inquiry ordered by the Jammu Kashmir administration. “We trusted the words of Lieutenant Governor (L.G.), who said that he would punish the culprits found guilty in the alleged gunfight,” Saima stated.
“A month has passed. Not even a single statement has been released by the officials regarding the probe. We feel helpless like many others. So far, the magistrate has only recorded our statement, post which, there has been no word from the officials on the progress of the investigation,” Saima told The Kashmiriyat over the phone.
Humaira, wife of Dr. Mudasir Gul, too, said that their family had high expectations from the probe ordered by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. “But, till now there is no word from officials on how the investigation is going.”
Humaira Mudasir, Mudasir Gul’s wife, while talking to The Kashmiriyat said, “He was murdered in cold blood, and later was labeled as O.G.W. (militant associate). They should come to us and seek forgiveness for this crime.”
Riyan Rather, Mudasir Gul’s brother, talking to The Kashmiriyat said that the family does not have any clue regarding the progress of the investigation. “I’m his brother and I was not even called for recording a statement,” he said.
Amir’s family says that they do not want any investigation. “We have no hopes from anyone or anything now. All we want is that his dead body be returned to us,” Lateef said.
“The general public/ person in the knowledge of the incident and is willing to record his/ her statement or wants to give any other information about the incident is being asked that he/ she may attend the office of the Additional District Magistrate, Srinagar in the office complex of Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Amar Niwas Complex, Tankipora, Srinagar for recording the statements in the matter within 10 days from the date of issuance of this notice from 11 AM to 3 PM during working days so that the inquiry in the said case is completed,” the administration had stated in an order.
Khurshid Ahmad Shah, the Additional District Magistrate of Srinagar, who is the investigating officer (IO) of the case had said that he has given 10 days’ time to people including the media to come forward and record their statements.
“The probe has been initiated. After 15 days I will submit the report to the higher authorities,” Shah had told The Kashmir Walla, a local news organization.
The Kashmiriyat tried to contact the Additional District Magistrate Srinagar, both via text message as well as calls, but his official number remained ‘out of reach.’ We tried reaching him via his office landline number, as well. However, despite several attempts, there was no response to our calls.
On Saturday, we tried to visit the office of the Additional District masgistrate, however, after a wait of more than an hour, we are asked to return on Monday. (The Kashmiriyat)
