DNA test establishes identity of militant killed in September last year

Srinagar: DNA test established the identity of a Kupwara youth, killed along with two other militant colleagues in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district last year, officials said on Tuesday.

They said three militants were killed while an army major and two policemen were injured in a gunfight in Yadipora area of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on September 4 last year.

Soon, the police had summoned families of all the three militants. While two families had identified their kin as Hanan Bilal Sofi son of Bilal Ahmad Sofi of Arampora Azadguj and Shafkat Ali Khan son of Ali Mohammad of Rawathpora Delina, the third one could not identify and subsequent authorities took samples for DNA profiling.

“DNA profiling was received and it has been established that the third militant was Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir alias Moin-ul-Islam son of Ghulam Nabi Mir of Gulgam Kupwara,” a police official told GNS. “His family was also summoned then but they could not identify him.”

Imtiyaz, according to the picture posted by him at the time of announcing his joining with the militant ranks, was Hafiz-e-Quran (one who memorise the Holy Quran) besides he had done diploma in some stream which was not revealed and had passed 11th standard.

He had joined Hizb-ul-Muajhideen ranks on 12 June 2019, according to the picture. (GNS)