Srinagar, Nov 17: The family members of building owner Altaf Ahmed, who was killed in crossfire in Hyderpora encounter Wednesday staged a protest at press enclave Srinagar demanding the body of slain back without any further delay.

The protesting family members also reached out to the J&K’s political parties, especially former chief ministers—Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti asking them to move beyond tweets and join the family in protest so that slain Altaf is given proper burial.

“Today, we are protesting to seek the body of slain Altaf Ahmed back without any delay. If police don’t give us his body back, we will block all roads and protest on streets,” said Dr Haneef Ahmed, brother of Altaf said.

He said that all the former chief ministers—Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, and politicians like Ghulam Nabi Azad and others should move beyond twitter reactions and join the family in protest on roads.

“Today, this has happened with us and tomorrow it may happen with you also. We also appeal to all Muslims, Sikhs and Kashmiri Pandits living in Kashmir to join us in protest and show us that we all are one,” Dr Haneef said.

He said when police chief of Kashmir Vijay Kumar has himself admitted that Altaf was a civilian and was killed in a crossfire, what prompted him to take “my brother’s body to Handwara for burial.”

“We appeal to the IGP to return to us the body of Altaf and at the same time we seek LG Manoj Sinha’s intervention too into the issue,” he said.

Altaf was among four persons killed in Hydeprora encounter. On Tuesday, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said Altaf, the building owner, was killed in cross fire and the bodies of all four slain were taken to Handwara for burial. kno