Srinagar, Jan 1 (UNI) Rejecting the claims of the families of three youth that they were killed in a staged encounter in the summer capital, Srinagar, Police on Friday said that initial investigation has revealed that the trio was linked with militants.



However, no prior association of one the three slain youth – Zubair Ahmad Lone – with militants has been established so far.

Three alleged militants -- identified as Aijaz Ahmad Ganie, Ather Mushtaq from Pulwama and Zubair Ahmad Lone from Shopian – were killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar outskirts on Wednesday. The families and relatives of the slain youth had claimed that they are innocent and were killed in staged encounter.

A police spokesperson said that Srinagar encounter started with Army inputs and eventually fructified into a joint operation of Army, CRPF and Police. “After the cordon was laid, militants lobbed grenade from inside and fired upon search party,” he said.



He said although as per SOP, militants were repeatedly appealed by the troops to surrender in the evening and again in the morning. However, he said instead of surrendering, they fired upon troops and eventually got neutralised in a fire-fight.



“As far as the claims of the parents that Aijaz Maqbool Ganai went to the University to fill up form is concerned… The same was verified and cross checked through the modern techniques, including records of telecom department. Contrary to the claims, the verified digital evidence revealed and corroborated that Aijaz and Ather had gone to Hyderpora and from there to the place of occurrence only,” he said.



Similarly, he said Zubair had gone first to Pulwama, then Anantnag, then Shopian to Pulwama and finally came to place of occurrence.



“Background check also reveals that Aijaz and Ather Mustaq, both Over Ground Workers (OGWs) variously provided logistic support to militants. Antecedents and verifications too shows that both were radically inclined and had aided militants of LeT,” he said.



He said one of OGW presently under police custody has also corroborated Aijaz’s association with LeT militant Faisal Mustaq Baba, who was killed in Meej (Pampore) encounter in June last year. “Ather was relative and OGW of HM top commander Rayees Kachroo who got killed in year 2017,” he said.



“Nevertheless police is investigating into the case from all possible angles,” he added.

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