Burhan Wani's killing an "accident", says J-K Deputy CM

Katra (Jammu and Kashmir), July 30 (ANI): After Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti stated that security forces were unaware about Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's identity during the encounter in which he was neutralised, state Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Saturday admitted that the entire episode was an "accident". When asked about Wani's killing and the recent remarks made by certain leaders about it, Singh said the security forces had no prior information and the identification of bodies was done after the terrorists were killed. "There was a routine anti-terrorism operation. Four Pakistani terrorists were killed, at that time there was no information. The identification was done after that," he told media persons here. "If there was any prior information then we could have taken some precautions. We did know about the terrorists....This was an accident. We did not know beforehand. Terrorists have to be dealt with guns," he added. National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah earlier today rubbished Mufti's claim that she was not aware of the encounter between the security forces and Burhan Wani, which resulted in the latter's death. Mufti earlier claimed that the security forces were unaware about Wani's hideout, adding that he would have been given a chance had they known about his presence. Mehbooba said, "How are we supposed to know everything about every encounter? As far as I know, what I heard from the police and the army, who said they only knew that there were three militants inside the house but did not know who they were." "I believe that had they known he was there, Wani would have been given one chance as the situation was fast improving in the state. He would have been given a chance," she added. At least 47 people have died and around 5,500 people, including 3,000 security personnel, have also been injured in the violence that rocked the Valley since July 8, when Wani was killed in an encounter. (ANI)