SRINAGAR: Misra Beguam, the housewife who was killed in the early morning encounter in Handwara was laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans. Three militants were killed in the encounter as well.
Misra was a resident of Unisoo village, where the encounter took place. She was buried in their ancestral village.
Reports said hundreds of people participated in Misra’s funeral braving inclement weather. She is survived by a minor son of around 18 months. She was living with her parents and her husband, a ghar-damaad. Identified as Ishfaq Ahmad, he was married to Misra for less than two years.
The civilian killing led to mass anger as people from all walks of life protested and condemned the killing.
Giving details, a police spokesman said acting on a specific input, Handwara police along with 22 RR and 92 Bn CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Mir Mohalla area of Unisoo in the jurisdiction of Police Station Handwara.
“During search operation, terrorists hiding in the house of Abdul Hamid Mir fired upon the joint search party. The fire was retaliated, ensuing an encounter,” the spokesman said “Three unidentified terrorists of LeT were killed in this encounter. The identity of these terrorists is being ascertained. Three AK rifles along with other ammunition was recovered from the encounter site.”
“During the encounter, one lady got injured in the cross firing and unfortunately she succumbed to her injuries,” the spokesman added.
Independent legislator Engineer Rasheed led a protest march against Misra’s killing in Handwara.
A spokesman of the party said that hundreds joined the legislator in the protest march. Addressing the protesters at Main Chowk Handwara, Rasheed condemned the killings by calling them unacceptable and says Mehbooba survives on the briefing of security forces.
“It is yet again proved that security forces are accountable to none and treat themselves above any law,” Rasheed said.
Rasheed said it seems as if the price of Kashmiri lives has been fixed Rs 1.00 lakh. “Delhi wants to threaten Kashmiris and shut their mouth but denying them justice will only strengthen the commitment of Kashmiris to fight for their genuine political rights,” Rasheed was quoted by his spokesman saying.
Rasheed alleged that Mehbooba Mufti has lost complete control over the forces and she has been left to the mercy of false briefings of men in uniform.
Rasheed ridiculed government for organizing a state-sponsored seminar on International Human Rights Day at SKICC. “It is strange and astonishing that those who commit, advocate and facilitate human rights violations were sermonizing about the necessity of Human Rights, just to mislead the civilized world,” Rasheed said. “It is shameful for the law minister Abdul Haq Khan to chair the seminar on human rights, despite the fact that a youth namely Manzoor Ahmad Khan hailing from his own constituency disappeared in broad daylight in the custody of security forces and till now Law Minister has been doing nothing except authenticating the false version of security forces just to bury the serious issue.”
Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir strongly condemns the barbaric killing of Misra Banoo, resident of Yunsoo Handwara, expresses its complete solidarity with her family. The killing, the statement said, vindicates the real motive of cruel forces towards Kashmiri nation.
“The saddest part of the situation is that human rights bodies and world forums have kept deep mum over this genocide due to which these institutions have lost its credibility among masses,” the statement said.
JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik has strongly condemned the brutal killing of the woman. Paying rich tributes to the slain lady, JKLF chairman, currently lodged at central jail Srinagar, said that trigger happy forces have crossed every limit of brutality and oppression. “The impunity and immunity provided to these killers has made them savages and they feel no shame while killing humans especially the innocents,” the statement said. “He added that pro-India politicians, their political parties and all assembly members are directly responsible for these atrocities and killings as they are the ones who provide legal shield to the killers.”
