Srinagar, Dec 30: The incident of killing of three persons in Hokersar area of Lawayapora in Srinagar needs a judicial probe as the families of the slain persons have refuted the allegations of the security forces that they were militants.
Media reports quoting the families of the slain trio says that two among them had left their homes in Pulwama just on Tuesday morning for Srinagar to take admission in a tuition center. How is it possible that they became militants till evening when the encounter started at Hokersar.
There are unverified reports that they were killed in a fake encounter. If true, this is shocking and must be probed by a sitting High Court judge. The circumstances in which the killings happened need to be thoroughly probed.
In the past also unfortunate incidents of civilians being killed in fake encounters for rewards and promotions have been reported in Kashmir. Just in July this year, three labourers from Rajouri were killed in a fake encounter in Shopian.
Those who stage fake encounters in the name of the security of the country have to be brought to justice.
