The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices, returnable in four weeks, to the Jammu & Kashmir Chief Secretary and the Union Defence Secretary seeking a reply on media reports which claimed that Hilal Ahmad Dar (26) of Aloosa was killed by Army jawans. The security guard is said to have been killed in a fake encounter in Ashtingoo in Bandipora on the night of July 24.
Locals allege Hilal had nothing to do with the militants and that he was killed in the forests by the jawans after being taken into custody.
The Army, however, claimed the youth was killed following an exchange of fire with the militants during an ambush operation laid by the troops of 27 Rashtriya Rifles. It did not specify whether the deceased was involved in militancy, but claimed recovery of an AK-47 rifle and some ammunition from the scene of encounter.
The NHRC observed that the allegations of fake encounter, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the deceased.