South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

Srinagar, August 10 , 2020: The three youth, martyred by Indian troops in a fake encounter in Shopian, have been identified as the Kashmiri labourers of Rajouri district in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. 
The youth identified as Abrar Gujar, Imtiyaz Gujar and Abrar Khan were killed by Indian Army’s 62 Rashtriya Rifles during a cordon and search operation at Keller Amshipora in Shopian district on July 18, 2020. Two of the victims were working locally as masons, said a student from a nearby village and had worked in the locality for many years. The Indian troops during the operation claimed they were “militants”.

Today, the three labourers of Rajouri’s Peeri tehsil were identified by their families who said that they left their homes on 16th July to find work in Kashmir valley. They added that amidst the lockdown, the trio managed to reach Shopian district where they rented a room and purchased some essentials.
 Speaking to media men, a relative of one of the missing persons said, “The last time we spoke to them on July 17, after that we were not able to establish any contact with them.” 
A family member has identified their kin saying that he is one of the three killed in Shopian. He said that he could identify the family member from photographs purportedly of those killed in Shopian on July 18.
 “It is for sure that it is him. All three are boys from Rajouri,” he said. 
They family said they are seeking permission from the Rajouri district administration to go to Shopian on Tuesday.