3 Militants Found Murdered in Pattan Orchard

Protests, Clashes Rock Sopore, Baramulla

SRINAGAR:  Massive anti-government protests broke out in many areas of Baramulla district Monday after residents in Pattan found bullet riddled bodies of three teenagers, two of them said to be Hizbul Mujahedin activists, in an apple orchard at Seeru Dangarpora village of the tehsil.

Eyewitnesses said that residents informed police about the presence of three bodies and accordingly, police rushed to spot and took possession of the bodies.

According to SSP Baramulla, Suhail Mir the two of the three bodies are of Hizb militants, while the identity of third one was being ascertained.

SSP said that soon after the recovery of the bodies, almost all the parents who have lodged missing reports of their sons in different police stations were called to district hospital Baramulla for identification. “Instead of resorting to violence, people should cooperate with police to unearth the truth,” SSP Baramulla said. 

“One was identified as Ashiq Hussain Wani S/O Mohammad Ramzan Wani of Lolipora Pattan. He was 17 and had had joined Hizb in July 2014 and was active since then. The second one was identified as 21 year old Aamir Qadir Reshi S/O Ghulam Qadir Reshi of Yemberzalwari, Hardishiva Sopore. He was missing since July 15, 2015 and had reportedly joined Hizb,” police officer said. “The body of third one was lying in District Hospital Baramulla.”

However according to local news gathering agency, GNS, the trio belonged to Lashkar-e-Islam outfit headed by erstwhile Hizbul Mujahideen commander and “most-wanted” militant, Abdul Qayoom Najar.

On cause of the killing, SSP said: “It is too early to predict the actual cause of their death but indicators point towards the factional conflict between the rival militant groups operating in the area,” he said.

Bodies of Ashiq and Aamir were later handed over to their respective family members for last rites after conducting all legal formalities, the sources said.

Ghulam Qadir, father of Amir said that his son went missing on July 15 and he lodged a complaint with police station Bomai. He said that later his family came to know about Amir’s affiliation with the militants. The father of the slain said that the police and army continuously used to come to his house, insisting he help forces in motivating Amir for surrender.

Ashiq Wani was a Law student of Central University and was in his last semester when he joined the militant ranks. 

He was also earlier affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen but left the outfit and joined LeI, GNS quoting sources said.

Giving details DIG North Kashmir, Gareeb Das said: “We were informed by locals, that three dead bodies are lying in the orchard of a local deputy Sarpanch at Seeru Dangarpora. A police team from Pattan Station rushed to the spot. The bodies were taken to Baramulla hospital for autopsy. Investigation has been taken up to know the cause of their death. It will be premature to say anything at this stage

Eyewitnesses said that the bodies bore ‘bullet and torture’ marks. Police said that everything will be clear once they receive post mortem reports.

Eyewitnesses said that as the news about the death of the trio spread in the town, hundreds of people, mostly youth took to streets in Palhalan and Pattan area, hurling rocks on the passing private and police vehicles. Soon the protests spread to Sopore and Baramulla towns.

Sensing trouble, the shopkeepers downed their shutters while the footpath vendors ran for safety.    

Students from local colleges also came out on the roads to join protests.

Scores of vehicles were attacked with stones by the protesters, who were demanding inquiry into the incident. 

Several police and private vehicles suffered damage. The protesters blocked Srinagar-Muzafarabad road near Pattan and Palhalan and resorted to heavy stone-pelting. 

Police burst tear-smoke shells to disperse the angry protesters, however, they continued to throw stones on the government forces.

Angry protesters attacked police station Pattan with stones and damaged several vehicles parked inside the premises. A police official said that a group of youth cornered police station Pattan and hurled stones, damaging the window panes of the building. “The private vehicle  of a police officer was badly damaged by the stone-pelters,” he said.

The clashes between the police and protesters continued for hours.   

The incident sparked a complete shutdown in the Pattan and Palhalan areas. All the shops and business establishments remained closed while traffic on the highway got disrupted for several hours.

 Large contingent of police and para-military personnel were brought in to restore order.

Meanwhile expressing shock over the Pattan incident in which three bullet ridden bodies of young boys with torture marks were found in mysterious circumstances the APHC spokesman said that the gruesome incident raises suspicion and needs to be investigated and the culprits brought to book. 

National Conference has demanded the constitution of a competent medical team with doctors from SKIMS and SMHS Hospital to carry forensic examinations to ascertain the possible cause of death of three youngsters. 

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