Srinagar: Locals staged a protest in Brariaangan village of south Kashmir’s Islamabad town on Tuesday on the 14th anniversary of Pathribal fake encounter victims.
Along with the family members of the victims, the protesters gathered near the graveyard of Pathribal and Bulbul Nowgam and observed a Fateh Khawani for the slain people.
Reports said people carrying banners and placards seeking severe punishment for killers of these innocent men took out a march.
On this occasion, Rashid Khan, the son of one of the victims of Pathribal fake encounter told CNS that they will struggle till justice is not delivered in the case.
“The way Army has given clean chit to the killers indicates that there is military rule in Kashmir while the state government is helpless and powerless to book and punish the culprits who are all Indian army soldiers,” he said.
He said the Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah raised this issue in the assembly to gain sympathy from the people.
“Elections are coming and Omar Abdullah did lip service to gain some votes,” Khan said.
Another protestor said they will leave no stone unturned to get the killers punished. “We have not given up and our struggle will continue,” he said.
Nearly 14 years after the Pathribhal fake encounter that rocked Jammu and Kashmir, Army closed the case saying the evidence recorded could not establish prima facie charges against any of the five accused Army personnel.