Manzoor, army killed Irfan: Family

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/3/2013 11:23:23 PM

SRINAGAR, July 3: The family of Irfan Ahmad, who was killed at Markundal, today blamed Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, an alleged army informer, and an army man for opening fire on the teenaged boy and killing him.
However, the higher education minister, Mohammad Akbar Lone, put the blame on Manzoor but held army equally responsible for the killing.
Manzoor, a tipper driver, had claimed that he was witness to the killing by army and later he was arrested by police.
However, Irfan’s family today alleged that army informer, Manzoor, is misleading media by his false statements. It was Manzoor and an army man who continuously fired upon Irfan and killed him in cold blood,” they told a local news agency, CNS.
Irfan’s cousin, Nazir Ahmed Ganai said he and the slain teenager were sleeping in the same room. “At around 12 that night few vehicles appeared in the village. Villagers took the people in vehicles as burglars and shouted at them. The vehicles left the village and at around 3 AM, the vehicles appeared again and we all were scared when we heard some scary noises outside,” Nazir said adding that as Irfan went outside, flood lights were lit by army and “we clearly saw Manzoor carrying a weapon in his hand.”
He said as Irfan came under the light, “we saw Manzoor and another army jawan firing upon him and killing him instantly.” “He is misleading media that he was in the vehicle. We are the eyewitness of Irfan’s killing and it was Manzoor who shot at Irfan first,” Nazir said adding that police must interrogate him (Manzoor) as he is the real culprit who killed Irfan with the help of army.
Nazir claimed that besides Manzoor they saw another civilian Mohammad Saleem from Sadarkot Bala who was also accompanying army on that fateful night.
The mother of Irfan, Haneefa Banoo said the family would not accept any compensation or job from the government. “The reality is that Manzoor misled Army and I hold both army and Manzoor guilty for killing my innocent son,” she said, adding that army personnel beat them ruthlessly when they tried to take control of the body of Irfan.
Haneefa said Manzoor killed her son to take revenge. “Manzoor wanted to get her sister married to one of our relatives. We rejected the proposal just because army men frequently used to visit their home day in and day out. A few days back there was heated argument between the two families and my son had rebuked the brother of Manzoor who in turn had threatened him of dire consequences,” she said, adding that Manzoor used army to kill his innocent son.
Higher education minister Mohammad Akbar Lone today said it was the informer of the Army, Manzoor, who showered bullets on Irfan Ahmed and killed him in cold blood at Markundal.
“We hold army responsible because it did not inform local police and laid a cordon on the behest of their source, Manzoor Sheikh,” Lone said on the sidelines of a function at SP college here.
He added that it is a fact that Manzoor used army for his nefarious designs as few days back the army source had a brawl with the neighbours of the Irfan. “Army is equally responsible for this killing. First the army equipped their source with weapon and when people started shouting- chor, chor, chor (thief), this Manzoor pumped bullets on Irfan and killed him instantly,” Lone said, adding that army violated all norms by not informing local police that they are going to lay a siege around Markundal.
Appealing people to repose trust and faith in investigating agency probing the killing of two youth, the minister said that guilty would be taken to task. “The government has already registered a murder case under section 302 and the person who was working as a source for army has been arrested. The vehicles used for the crime have already been seized,” Lone said.
He said the matter is very serious and the police have already approached the General Officer Commanding 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh in this regard. “We assure people that there would be free and fair investigation and culprits would be booked at any cost. We are concerned about the reaction of people but our job is to go for a free and fair probe,” Lone said, adding that “we are ready to entrust the case to any agency whom people would like to investigate.”
Lone said the government has full confidence in local police. “The track record of police is very good and they have ample experience in solving the case of such nature,” he said.

 

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