Those killed in Hyderpora gunfight ‘not innocents’: DGP

*Says investigation on, have strong evidences against them, JKP is professional force, don’t need lessons; Heroine worth Rs 100 cr seized in Jammu*

Yogesh Sagotra

Jammu, Nov 25 Jammu and Kashmir police chief, Dilbag Singh on Thursday said that those killed in Hyderpora gunfight were not innocents and that there is strong evidence available against them. He also said that Jammu and Kashmir police is a professional force and they don’t need lessons from anyone.

Director General of Police (DGP) while addressing a presser said that a special investigation team has been constituted by Kashmir Zone Police to investigate the Hyderpora gunfight. “We must give them some time to make specific comments. However, I would like to say with full authority that the police is doing its work professionally and our officers know how to conduct operations. We don’t want lessons on conducting operations from the people who are unaware of how the operations are being carried out,” DGP said while replying to a query.

Claiming that the civilians, who were killed in Hyderpora gunfight were ‘not innocents’, DGP said, “There are very strong evidences available in this case and will be shared with all the concerned very soon. The ‘so called innocent civilians’ are taking the foreign militant out for a recce on motorbike, picking up targets and you call them innocent.”

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Correspondent, he further said that their innocence would be proven once the investigation makes further progress.

“The foreign militant (Pakistani national) who was moving around in the City with a weapon was responsible for shooting a policeman and that policeman recognized him, as he fired at him from very close range. Our investigation is in progress, which is suggesting very much that the militant (Pakistani) has a militant network around him, which was supporting him. We will see who is involved to what extent and will be shared at the right time,” DGP said, as per KNO.

Addressing a press conference after seizure of large consignment of drugs from Jammu’s Jajjar Kotli along Jammu-Srinagar highway, Singh reacted to the comments regarding apprehensions on operations carried out for the last two weeks.

He said that “this is politics and Mehbooba should stop it.”

Mehbooba Mufti had earlier questioned the intentions behind these ‘encounters.’

Singh also added that some people from Civil Society and social media often make claims which remain far from the reality.

“This is high time people accept reality without mixing it with their imagination,” he said. “Yesterday three militants were killed in the Rambagh encounter. Srinagar resident Meehran was chief among them and all three are responsible for so many innocent civilian killings including School teachers Supinder Kaur and Deepak Chan Mehra, police SI Arshad and many grenade firing incidents,” he said, adding that “those who try to show them as innocents are enemies of humanity.”

These comments come in relation to the Rambagh encounters which have created a storm in the political circles of the Valley.

On recent civilian killings, the DGP said that police are pursuing each and every case.

“More than 20 militants involved in civilian killings have been killed so far. Only Basit of Kulgam is absconding right now and security forces are after him, he will be soon taken to task,” the DGP said.

On the term ‘Hybrid militant’, the DGP said that these militants look like normal school going boys or officer goers but can pick up a gun anytime to kill anyone.

DGP also congratulated Jammu police for acting swiftly on drug menace.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh informed that the drugs worth 100 crore have been seized for Jammu.

“A truck bearing registration number of Haryana was seized with consignment of 52 kilograms of Heroines, which is worth Rs 100 crores in the international market,” said ADGP Mukesh Singh—(KNO)