Nasir Khuehami

Bandipora, Sep 25 (KNS): Four families from Kulgam, Shopian, Kangan and Kupwara district here on Tuesday claimed that their kin are among the five militants killed on Friday during a Gunfight at Sokbabun area of Sumlar village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Sources said that families of four slain militants Parvez Ahmed Tedwa alias Abu Mawiya of Kangan, Bilal Ahmad alias Abu Haider of Kulgam, Muhammad Umar from Shopian and Mohammad Sidiq Sountra from Kupwara approached the Deputy commissioner Bandipora Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and sought their bodies for proper burial. However Identification of Fifth one is yet to be ascertained as no Family yet came forward, claims him as their kin.
The slain militant of Kulgam district was identified as Bilal Ahmad Dar urf Haider Ali of Brazul area of Kulgam. His Family Came Forward and claiming that one of the slain Militant as their kin. His Brother said that, my Brother had crossed Border in 2003. My Father went LoC to met him December last year, he said. The family claimed that they identified their through pictures displayed on social networking sites.
Family from Keller Shopian also claimed one of the slain militants Mohammad Umar was their kin. His brother while talking with Media said that, he joined militancy in the year 2014 and went other side of LoC. He said that we identified him in a photo circulated on Social Media.
Family from Rang Warnow area of Kupwara also claimed that one of the militants Mohammad Sidiq Sountra @Abu Usman killed in Sumlar Bandipora gunfight was their kin. We have also approached the police, he said. He said that Sidiq has joined militancy in early 90’s and on the photographic evidence we came to know about his killing.
Another family from Central Kashmir's Kangan area of Ganderbal district Calimed One of the slain Militant Parvez Ahmad Tedwa as their Kin. One of the Relative of Slain said that he was missing from Home since 2003. He said that, We have clearly established from the photographs that one of the bodies is that of Parvez. We saw the photos on the social media and found that it was nabi and not any foreign but our own Parvez.
The Families of Slain Militants request authorities to hand over the body to us so that we can properly bury our Kins.
An official said that Families met us today. It needs to be confirmed because the militants have already been buried in Boniyar Uri.
Meanwhile DC Bandipora assured Families help and called DC Baramulla to verify the claims. Families thanked Traders Federation Bandipora who managed their meeting with District Administration.
When contacted SSP Bandipora Sheikh Zulifikar Azad told KNS "Relatives of militants have approached us today and sought dead bodies. They said, they went pakistan 18 years back. DNA will confirm whether they are their kins or not and after proper and legal procedure, they will get bodies. We have transferred the case to Baramulla Adminstration and only after the completion of legal process the dead bodies would be handed over to families, it is now Baramulla District Adminstration who would verify and look this matter further.
Pertinently, a complete shutdown was observed here on 5th Straight day in North Kashmir’s Bandipora township on Tuesday to mourn the killing of Five Militants in a Gunfight.
All shops, business establishments, government and private offices remained closed while public transport also remained off the roads. Schools and degree College also also remained shut due to Shutdown.
Earlier On Friday, the army claimed to have killed an unidentified militant in an encounter at Sumlar area of Bandipora District. (KNS)