‘Our son was psychiatric patient since 1997, had left home for Amritsar on June 13’
‘Police denying body to family, wants simple burial’
In deep shock and despair, the family of Srinagar youth killed in Udhampur shootout on Tuesday contested the government and police claims about the gunfight, stating their son was a psychiatric patient since 1997 and had left home on June 13 morning for Amritsar to get his shoulder injury treated. The family also asked police and government to explain how an active militant can stay in his own house.
Pertinently, police was first to make a statement that the slain man identified as Tanvir Sultan son of Sheikh Muhammad of Ibrahim Colony Bemina had “opened fire on CRPF camp near Kud (Udhampur) and in retaliation he was killed.” Today, the J&K government said in the State Legislative Assembly that Tanvir was a militant and an AK 47 rifle, a pistol and other ammunition was recovered from his possession. But the slain youth’s family said: “We reject government and police claims.”
“If my brother was an active militant, how he was staying in his own house freely,” asked Arshid Sultan, elder brother of Tanvir.
He said Tanvir was fifth son of his parents. “He was 31 years old. Unfortunately, in 1997, he developed a mental ailment and was put on 15 drugs immediately. He was an engineering student at Sir Syed Memorial College (SSM), but had to leave his studies mid-way due to his ailment,” Arshid told Kashmir POST.
He said Tanvir was arrested in 2004 for his links with militant outfit Laskhar-e-Toiba. “He had not crossed the Line of Control for any training and yet he was arrested. After serving at least nine months in prison, he was released. But his health always remained a concern for us,” he said.
Tanvir’s father Sheikh Muhammad Sultan said: “Talk to my son, he will tell you everything.”
Arshid said since 2005, Tanvir was being treated for “his mental disease called Bipolar disorder” also known as manic-depressive illness. “From 15 drugs a day, he was at present taking one particular drug for his ailment,” he said.
Arshid said recently he (Tanvir) developed a fracture in his shoulder at Harwan where he had gone with his friends.
“And yesterday (June 13), he left along with a small bag containing his medical details and other test records for Amritsar to ensure quality treatment to his shoulder fracture. I wonder how he could carry an AK-47, a pistol and other ammunition in his small bag and attack a CRPF camp at Kud on Srinagar-Jammu highway,” Arshid asked.
He said the government and police have been issuing contradictory statements on Tanvir’s killing.
“First police said he attacked the CRPF camp near Kud and today some ministers in the Assembly said the vehicle was frisked and then he opened the fire. This is complete contradiction,” he said.
Arshid said his brother was single due to illness. “He was tallest among us and smart as well. He had a good physique,” he said. “We were seven brothers. One was an active militant of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit and was martyred in an encounter at Batamaloo. His name was Gowhar Sultan. He was buried at the martyrs’ graveyard at Batamaloo and we plan to lay Tanvir to rest next to him.”
Arshid said police station (Bemina) would often call Tanvir for “attendance”.
“This is a routine for the former militants,” he said. “There is no reality in the reports that Tanvir’s phone was switched off for the past many days. He was at home and very much in touch with us through phone.”
Meanwhile, massive protests and clashes rocked Bemina area of Srinagar on Tuesday against killing of a youth—who police and government claimed was a militant—in a shootout on Srinagar-Jammu highway on Monday. The slain youth’s family accused police of deliberately denying them the body of their son.
