Slain youth’s family contests govt version, Day-long protests, clashes in native place
‘Our son was psychiatric patient since 1997, had left home for Amritsar on June 13’
‘Police denying body to family, wants simple burial’
In deep shock and despair, the family of Srinagar youth killed in Udhampur shootout on Tuesday contested the government and police claims about the gunfight, stating their son was a psychiatric patient since 1997 and had left home on June 13 morning for Amritsar to get his shoulder injury treated. The family also asked police and government to explain how an active militant can stay in his own house.
Pertinently, police was first to make a statement that the slain man identified as Tanvir Sultan son of Sheikh Muhammad of Ibrahim Colony Bemina had “opened fire on CRPF camp near Kud (Udhampur) and in retaliation he was killed.” Today, the J&K government said in the State Legislative Assembly that Tanvir was a militant and an AK 47 rifle, a pistol and other ammunition was recovered from his possession. But the slain youth’s family said: “We reject government and police claims.”
“If my brother was an active militant, how he was staying in his own house freely,” asked Arshid Sultan, elder brother of Tanvir.
He said Tanvir was fifth son of his parents. “He was 31 years old. Unfortunately, in 1997, he developed a mental ailment and was put on 15 drugs immediately. He was an engineering student at Sir Syed Memorial College (SSM), but had to leave his studies mid-way due to his ailment,” Arshid told Kashmir POST.
He said Tanvir was arrested in 2004 for his links with militant outfit Laskhar-e-Toiba. “He had not crossed the Line of Control for any training and yet he was arrested. After serving at least nine months in prison, he was released. But his health always remained a concern for us,” he said.
Tanvir’s father Sheikh Muhammad Sultan said: “Talk to my son, he will tell you everything.”
Arshid said since 2005, Tanvir was being treated for “his mental disease called Bipolar disorder” also known as manic-depressive illness. “From 15 drugs a day, he was at present taking one particular drug for his ailment,” he said.
Arshid said recently he (Tanvir) developed a fracture in his shoulder at Harwan where he had gone with his friends.
“And yesterday (June 13), he left along with a small bag containing his medical details and other test records for Amritsar to ensure quality treatment to his shoulder fracture. I wonder how he could carry an AK-47, a pistol and other ammunition in his small bag and attack a CRPF camp at Kud on Srinagar-Jammu highway,” Arshid asked.
He said the government and police have been issuing contradictory statements on Tanvir’s killing.
“First police said he attacked the CRPF camp near Kud and today some ministers in the Assembly said the vehicle was frisked and then he opened the fire. This is complete contradiction,” he said.
Arshid said his brother was single due to illness. “He was tallest among us and smart as well. He had a good physique,” he said. “We were seven brothers. One was an active militant of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit and was martyred in an encounter at Batamaloo. His name was Gowhar Sultan. He was buried at the martyrs’ graveyard at Batamaloo and we plan to lay Tanvir to rest next to him.”
Arshid said police station (Bemina) would often call Tanvir for “attendance”.
“This is a routine for the former militants,” he said. “There is no reality in the reports that Tanvir’s phone was switched off for the past many days. He was at home and very much in touch with us through phone.”
Meanwhile, massive protests and clashes rocked Bemina area of Srinagar on Tuesday against killing of a youth—who police and government claimed was a militant—in a shootout on Srinagar-Jammu highway on Monday. The slain youth’s family accused police of deliberately denying them the body of their son.
Witnesses said Ibrahim Colony at Bemina—the native place of slain youth Tanvir Sultan—witnessed massive clashes between youth and police since early Tuesday morning. The clashes escalated after police denied handing over Tanvir’s body even till 8:30 pm.
According to family members of Tanvir, police fired dozens of tear-gas shells at the protesting youths and also at the house of the slain youth. What triggered anger among the youth was continued denial of Tanvir’s body by police to his family for the last rites.
“We met the concerned Superintendent of Police and sought information as to why the body of Tanvir is not being handed over to us. He said the vehicle carrying the body is yet to reach the Jawhar Tunnel. He said the same thing in the afternoon. We smell a rat in his claims,” said Tanvir’s brother, Arshid Sultan.
Earlier, angered over the delay, Chairman of local Coordination Committee Muhammad Shafi Shah said if police doesn’t hand over the body till ‘Iftaar’, they won’t lay it to rest.
As per reports, the area remained tense as the youth had placed big rocks in the middle of lanes leading to Tanvir’s residence.
Witnesses said police fired many teargas shells at the youth. Some of these shells even landed in the premises of slain youth’s house where mourners had gathered.
Meanwhile, Tanvir’s brother Arshid Sultan said the decision of the Coordination Committee stands. “Police wants us to offer funeral prayers silently which is unacceptable to us. Denial of my brother’s body speaks volumes about the government and police approach,” he said. “It is 9 pm and we are yet to receive his body. We won’t bury him in presence of just 20 odd people.”
Arshid said they want to lay Tanvir to rest at Martyrs’ Graveyard at Batmaloo where one of their brothers is already buried.
“One of our brothers was a militant who was killed in an encounter at Batmaloo. We want Tanvir to be laid to rest next to him,” Arshid said.
