With the return of bodies of two civilians killed in the Hyderpora ‘encounter’, voices for return of the mortal remains of the third victim Aamir Magray grew louder as Hurriyat and political parties in the valley raised the issue.
The recent killings in Hyderpora seemed to have broken political barriers as mainstream politicians and the separatist are both in unison in their demand for justice to those affected by this incident.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted that Aamir “is yet to be given a decent burial by his mourning family.”
Amir’s body, she said, must be returned immediately. “The fact that these families are begging for mortal remains instead of asking for justice reflects their lack of faith in the system,” she said.
National Conference leader Ruhullah Mehdi while demanding the return of Amir’s body also questioned the lack of clarity surrounding the fourth person allegedly killed in the shootout.
“Is Amir Magray’s body returned to his family? And if not, why? Does the administration and also we (the society) think he was child of a lesser mortal? And what about the identity and details of the 4th one killed? Or was there a 4th one? Was there even a combatant among them?,” he tweeted.
CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami also urged the government to return the body without any further delay.
“It has been proven beyond any doubt that Magray is a civilian. His father Abdul Latief Magray is a state bravery award winner and now his son has been killed and falsely labelled as a militant which is highly unfortunate,” Tarigami said.
Separatist Hurriyat Conference also called upon the authorities to return the body of Magray to his family.
In a statement, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat asked the authorities to “desist from the criminal practice of ceasing bodies and denying their families the right to a proper burial.”
“It is abhorrently inhuman. The Hurriyat calls on the authorities to stop the wanton violence in Kashmir,” it said.
While the Altaf Bukhari led Apni Party has remained on the fence regarding the issue, its youth leader and Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu demanded Amir’s mortal remains be handed back to his family.
On Thursday after growing voices of dissent the administration had to bend to the demand and agreed to hand over the dead bodies of two civilians killed in Hyderpora encounter to their families.