Insha Mushtaq Dar
The father of deceased Athar Mushtaq Wani who was killed in an “encounter” in the Lawaypora area of Srinagar has once again appealed the people to help him get the body of his deceased son.
It is pertinent to mention here that 16-year-old Athar Mushtaq Wani, Class 11 student along with two others was killed on 30th December, in an overnight “encounter” in the Lawaypora area of Srinagar. The police had claimed that Athar was an ‘OGW’ (overground worker) of the militants.
Following the encounter, the family members of Athar Mushtaq had refuted the claims of police that Athar was involved in any militancy case.
After the encounter, the police had claimed that all the dead bodies were buried in the Sonamarag area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal area.
Athar’s father Mushtaq Ahmed Wani released a video in which he said that, “Eleven months have passed (since the arbitrary killing of Athar Mushtaq), today I am putting my appeal forward again that I, with my own hands, had dug a grave for my son but the grave is still left open. I along with my family members am still waiting for when authorities will return the dead body of my deceased son Shaheed Athar Mushtaq Wani.”
Talking about the recent civilian killings in Srinagar’s Hyderpora area, Mushtaq Ahmed Wani said, “I once in Srinagar shouted out it to the people that what happened to me today, may happen to you tomorrow, and what I feared happened in Hyderpora.”
“I had appealed IGP Kashmir and Lt. Governor that time for the justice to be served but to no avail. I requested that the dead body of my deceased son should be returned to me. Offering money and jobs cannot compensate the loss of innocent life,” he added.
Mushtaq Ahmed added, “I appealed everyone to help a father get justice but I was left alone, nobody came forward.”
“My whole family is still in a state of grief. Whenever any youth dies in Kashmir, it reminds us of our son, Athar Mushtaq,” Wani said.
Talking about the investigation of the case, Wani said, “The IGP and LG at that time claimed that an investigation has been taken up and they will provide the proof. They also claimed that they have collected 70% proof and were working on the rest of the documents. They claimed that within 10-15 days they will prove to us that Athar was involved in the militancy case but till now nothing has been proved. It was a mere fake encounter.”
Appealing the people to help him get justice, Mushtaq Ahmed plead, “Today I again appeal the masses to come forward to help me get justice, to get the body of my deceased son back. If people come together and raise voices against it, only then they may listen to my plea.”
“My son was killed the same way 3 civilians were recently killed in Hyderpora area of Srinagar,” he added.
In February, Athar’s Father, Mushtaq Ahmed Wani along with six others was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the J&K police for organising a protest demanding the dead body of deceased Athar Mushtaq to be returned. He was booked under FIR Number 7/2021 U/S 147, 341, 13 ULA RPC lodged at the Police station of Rajpora in Pulwama.