Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, September 18
An Army investigation has found “prima facie” evidence that his men violated powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act during an encounter in the Kashmir Shopian in which three men were killed. He has started a disciplinary file.
“Consequently, the competent disciplinary authority has ordered the initiation of a disciplinary process under the Army Law against those who prima facie respond,” a statement from the Army reads. The Army did not explain how exactly the AFSPA was exceeded and the guidelines were violated.
Shopian encounter
The families of the murdered men had continued to proclaim their innocence. The Army’s disciplinary action must be transparent. – Omar Abdullah, NC leader
How many army men faced action was also silent.
On July 18, the Army had said that three unidentified militants who had fired at the soldiers were killed in a shootout in Amshipora, Shopian. Almost a month later, three families in Rajouri alleged that the murdered men were three missing cousins who had traveled to the Shopian to work as day laborers, but were killed in an organized gathering.
After the controversy, both the Army and the Police began to investigate the case. Police collected DNA samples on August 13. Reports are awaited.
The Army statement said that the evidence gathered by the investigation had prima facie indicated that the three unidentified terrorists killed in Operation Amshipora were Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohd Ibrar, who hailed from Rajouri.
“His involvement in terrorism or related activities is under investigation by the police,” the statement added.
