Updated: September 18, 2020 8:43:37 pm
On July 18, the army claimed that three militants had been killed in an operation in Amshipora in Shopian. (Express Photo by Shauiab Masoodi / File)
Admitting that the three young men who were killed in an encounter at Shopian on July 18 Rajouri workers were missing, as their families claimed last month, the Army on Friday said its investigation had found “prima facie” that its troops exceeded powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), and led disciplinary procedures against those “responsible”. ”.
The Army had ordered an investigative court on the encounter last month after the three families came forward to say the young men were cousins, one of them was 16 years old, who had left for Kashmir for work and had not been in contact since July 17. night.
The investigation ordered by the Army authorities into Op Amshipora has concluded. The investigation has yielded some prima facie evidence indicating that during the operation, the powers conferred under AFSPA 1990 – Army Statement on Shopian Encounter – were exceeded. @IndianExpress
– Naveed Iqbal (@NaveedIqbal) September 18, 2020
On Friday, army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in a statement that the evidence collected by the investigation had indicated prima facie that “the three unidentified terrorists killed in Op Amshipora were Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohd Ibrar, who were proceeding of Rajouri “.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Mohammad Yusuf, the father of Abrar Ahmed (25), said: “I want the bodies of the three children who were close relatives. The three children were innocent and have been killed in cold blood. I want those responsible to be hanged ”.
Yusuf also expressed concern about the delay in the DNA report. “Our samples were collected on August 13. The administration should intervene to obtain the report as soon as possible, otherwise we will be forced to launch a protest, ”he said.
The Army said that while the DNA report is awaited and the police are investigating the “participation” of the three dead “with terrorism or related activities,” the investigation “has produced certain prima facie evidence that indicates that during the operation, the powers conferred under the 1990 AFSPA they have exceeded and have violated what the Army Chief of Staff should and should not do as approved by the Honorable Supreme Court.
The Army communiqué stated: “Consequently, the competent disciplinary authority has ordered the initiation of a disciplinary process under the Army Law against those who prima facie respond.”
The meeting was questioned by various political parties in the Valley, after which J&K LG Manoj Sinha assured the families of the victims earlier this month that justice would be served.
On Friday, North Carolina leader and former CM Omar Abdullah posted on Twitter: “The families of the three murdered men had continued to proclaim their innocence. The disciplinary action initiated by the army would suggest that the army agrees with the families. The process must remain transparent and the guilty must face the full weight of the law. “
The families of the three murdered men had continued to proclaim their innocence. The disciplinary action initiated by the army would suggest that the army agrees with the families. The process must remain transparent and the culprits must face the full weight of the law. https://t.co/Na4o15UspD
– Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 18, 2020
On July 18, the army claimed that three militants had been killed in an operation in Amshipora in Shopian. However, that same day, the J&K police distanced themselves from the meeting and said in a statement that the contribution for the operation had come from the Army.
A month later, after finding images of the “murdered terrorists” on social media, the families of the three said they were workers and that Mohd Ibrar, the youngest, was 16 years old.
On August 18, while preparing an investigation into the killings, the Army said in a statement: “DNA samples have been collected from Rajouri under the auspices of the JKP and sent for comparison with the terrorists killed on July 18. 2020 “.
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