Youth killed in Handwara encounter was a civilian

• 21-year-old Shahid Bashir had gone missing on Monday
• Army had not dubbed him as a militant: IGP
• Police to probe killing, Army ascertaining facts
• Massive protests erupt in Handwara

The 21-year-old youth who was killed on Tuesday during an encounter in north Kashmir’s Handwara area was a civilian and not a militant as speculated earlier.
The deceased has been identified as Shahid Bashir Mir of Daril Tarathpora area of Handwara. He was a 3rd-year student at Government Degree College Handwara.
Talking to Kashmir Post, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, Munir Ahmad Khan said: “He was civilian. When Army launched operation yesterday it was said that a militant was killed. But now it has been learnt that he was not a militant. How he was there and with whom is subject to investigation, but there is no doubt that he is a civilian. He has been killed in a cross fire or something.”
IGP Khan said the deceased, identified as Shahid Bashir Mir of Daril Tarathpora area of Handwara had gone missing from his home three days back.
“There will be an inquiry. The Army had not dubbed him as a militant in the FIR,” Khan asserted, referring to Tuesday’s encounter in Hafruda forest area of Handwara.
According to his father, Shahid left home on Monday at around 5 pm to buy cigarettes from a local shop but didn’t return home.
“We started searching for him but failed to locate him. We went to the local police station in the morning to lodge missing report,” victim’s father Bashir Ahmad Mir told Kashmir Post.
“He was my eldest son. His killing has devastated my family,” said Mir, a carpenter by profession.
Mir said they received a call informing that his son’s body was lying in Vilgam Army camp.
“Our relatives rushed to the camp where they found my son dead,” he said.
The slain boy’s father denied his son’s links with any militant group.
“He was a student. You can check his attendance. He had no militant links,” Mir said.
As per sources, Shahid’s body was initially handed over to police for last rites. “Adhering to the norms, the police sent the body for post-mortem where the doctors raised alarm about the identity of the deceased as he did not appear to be a foreigner,” they said.
SHO Vilagam, Javaid Ahmad Khan said army had launched massive search operation in the nearby forests during which exchange of fire took place which continued for almost two hours.
He said after some time army informed them (Police) that an unidentified body was lying in the area. He said they requested army to bring the dead body to the police station.
The SHO said the deceased might have been killed in crossfire.
He confirmed that deceased youth’s father had submitted a missing report in the police station.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Srinagar based defense spokesman of Army, Rajesh Kalia said they are ascertaining the facts.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Khalid Jehangir said officials have reached the spot and the situation was under control. He said he was waiting for the police report to come.
The DC said as precautionary measure class work in all the higher secondary schools and colleges of the district will remain suspended on Thursday.
Meanwhile, news of Shahid’s killing triggered massive protests in the area with the locals demanding impartial investigation to bring the culprits to book.