Burhan Wani was killed by security forces in an operation on July 8.
Burhan Wani would "have been given a chance" had security forces who shot him been aware of his identity, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti told NDTV today, contradicting earlier details about how the 22-year-old terrorist died.
So far, security forces said that intel inputs led to Wani and two other terrorists on the night of July 8. Wani's death unleashed the worst violence in the Kashmir Valley in six years. Nearly 50 people have died; 5,000 of which 3,000 are security force personnel, have been injured in clashes that, till recently, placed the region under curfew and without mobile and internet services.
The violence which saw huge crowds of civilians and stone-throwing young men confront security forces has been instigated by Pakistan, India has said. Islamabad has declared Wani a martyr and thousands of people have marched in Pakistan to protest against what the government there has described as the use of excessive force by India to quell growing dissent.
Wani was a teen when he joined terror group Hizbul Mujahideen; he rose quickly through its ranks to become a commander and became famous for posting pictures on social media of himself in fatigues brandishing weapons snatched from the security personnel.
Ms Mufti's comments today about how he may have been allowed to live are at sharp odds with the centre, which has emphasised that Wani was a deadly terrorist.
"How do we know about an encounter? What can I say? I believe that had they known he was there, he (Wani) would have been given one chance as the situation was fast improving in the state," the Chief Minister told NDTV.
Muzaffar Beigh, a senior leader and MP from her party, which co-governs Kashmir with the BJP, has alleged that in Wani's shooting, ecurity forces violated the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court for any counter-terror operation.
Mr Beigh said Wani had not been given a chance to surrender before he was gunned down in a joint operation by police and the army.