SRINAGAR: Though Indian occupational forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) claim that its policy of denial of bodies of Kashmiri freedom fighters (militants) to their families has prevented recruitment of youth into militant ranks in Kashmir, statistics reveal that the move has not given a major dent in the recruitment of local youth into militant ranks.
To surprise the occupational regime in the IIOJK, as many as 126 local youth joined the militancy in 2019 and 180 joined in 2020.
On January 25, IGP, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told the High Court of IIOJ&K and Ladakh that returning the body of martyr Amir Magray to his family would pave way for “plethora of petitions that will have adverse ramifications upon larger security concerns”.
On November 15, Magray, along with a fellow militant and two local civilians Altaf Bhat and Dr Mudasir Gul, was killed in a gunfight in Hyderpora.
Their bodies were buried in Zachaldara Wudar in Handwara, triggering protests and forcing authorities for the first time to return the bodies of Bhat and Gul. Magray’s family filed a petition seeking his body.
IGP Vijay Kumar, through additional advocate general Asifa Padroo, opposed the petition.
Reportedly Kumar has described the decision to deny bodies of militants to their families as a historic step to curb militancy.
The government had initiated a magisterial probe into the controversial Hyderpora operation but its outcome is yet to be made public.
Hyderpora case
- On November 15, Amir Magray, Altaf Bhat and Dr Mudasir Gul were killed in a gunfight in Hyderpora.
- After protests, the bodies of Bhat and Gul were returned to kin. Now, Magray’s family too wants his body returned.
