An investigation into a missing man and his cellphone has uncovered a chilling story of three men being picked from the streets by the police, killed and passed off as Pakistani militants. Moving swiftly, the J&K government has already issued orders to “attach” Ganderbal SSP Hansraj Parehar, DSP Bahadur Ram while police have arrested an ASI and a constable in this connection.

Police officials said that a carpenter and two street vendors from a south Kashmir village were killed last year in what Ganderbal police called encounters during joint operations with a CRPF unit and Rashtriya Rifles (RR).

Given the serious nature of the offence, sources said that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is going to make a suo motu statement in the Assembly tomorrow.

Those killed have been identified as carpenter Abdul Rahman Paddar and street vendors Nazir Ahmad Deka and Ghulam Nabi Wani, all from villages in Kokernag.

J&K DGP Gopal Sharma confirmed to The Indian Express that they have “attached” the SSP and DSP. “I have also ordered a full investigation to bring out all facts of the cases. There will be stern action as per law. We have already arrested an ASI and a constable,” Sharma said, adding that Kashmir range DIG Farooq Ahmad would head investigations into the entire matter.

According to police investigations, Deka was picked up from Lalchowk — he sold used clothes on the pavement — and taken to Wurpash, Ganderbal where he was killed on February 18 last year. He was described a foreign militant. Ganderbal police had claimed that he was killed in a joint operation with Rashtriya Rifles.

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