J&K: Kin of 2 men killed in Srinagar encounter removed from protest site

The family members of two civilians killed in an encounter in Srinagar, who were staging a sit-in, were forcibly removed by police around midnight, officials said on Thursday.

Mudasir Gul and Altaf Bhat, two businessmen who were killed in a controversial encounter at Hyderpora neighbourhood of Srinagar on Monday.

The protesting families were on a sit-in since Wednesday morning and held a candlelight vigil after the daylong protest. They have been demanding the bodies of their relatives to perform their last rites.

They stayed put at the Press Enclave braving a biting cold and demanding that the bodies of their kin be returned to them.

However, police forcibly removed the protestors from the site at around midnight and detained some of them.

Also Watch: J&K administration orders magisterial probe into Hyderpora encounter amid protests

The power supply to the area was snapped before the arrival of the police personnel.

Mainstream politicians from Jammu and Kashmir have condemned the police action, video clips of which have gone viral on social media.

"Instead of handing over mortal remains of the innocent civilians, police has arrested the family members for demanding the bodies of their loved ones. Unbelievably ruthless & insensitive. Least they can do is return the mortal remains immediately," People's Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti wrote on Twitter.

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah called the action outrageous, saying this is how the Jammu and Kashmir police is fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise to remove "dil ki doori" and "Dilli se doori" made during an all-party meeting in June.

"This is the naya Kashmir of 2021. This is how the J&K police fulfils @PMOIndia promise to remove 'dil ki doori & Dilli se doori'. It's outrageous that the J&K administration did not allow the families to conduct a peaceful sit in protest," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said in a tweet.

He said he has rarely seen families who have been "wronged" conduct themselves with such dignity.