July 18 killed ‘militants’: Police promises investigation, DNA sampling in ‘due course of time’

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police Tuesday said that police will carry out DNA sampling of slain militants of July 18 Ashmipora Shopian encounter for cross-examination and matching purpose, besides all other aspects will be investigated as per law in due course of time.

In a statement issued to media, a police spokesman said that taking cognisance of the claim by the families and media reports, Shopian Police will examine the claimants and carry out DNA sampling for matching purposes. “Besides identification, Police will also investigate all other aspects as per the law in due course of time,” the spokesman said.

He said that District Police Rajouri has been approached by some families yesterday claiming that their kins had gone to Shopian for labour work and contacted on phone on 17th July. “As per families when they didn’t contact them after 17th July, they lodged a missing report at Police Post Peeru on August 10,” the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, social media reported that the militants killed in an operation at Shopian on July 18 were the kin of three families from Rajouri.

The police also said that apropos to its earlier press note regarding the July 18 operation, Police had provided sufficient time for identification of bodies at PCR Kashmir Srinagar. “However, the bodies could not be identified and they were buried in the presence of the Magistrate after conducting a post-mortem and lifting of DNA samples,” the police spokesman said.

Meanwhile, police said that the Army has also taken notice of the family and social media claims regarding the said operation and initiated investigations. The families of three youth have already demanded an independent probe to find out the truth. KNO