26.12.13

Machchil Encounter snippets

Three years after the Machchil encounter triggered widespread protests in the Kashmir valley, the Army ordered court martial proceedings against six of its men, including a Colonel and Major, for allegedly gunning down three youths and claiming they were Pakistani infiltrators.
The April 30, 2010 encounter had led to two month-long agitation in the Valley. The slain youths were identified as Mohamad Shafi, Shehzad Ahmed and Riyaz Ahmed –– all residents of Nadihal in Baramulla district. Army had claimed it had killed three Pakistani terrorists in the Machchil sector along the Line of Control (LoC).
Army sources said the court martial proceedings have been initiated against the six accused including Col D K Pathania, Commanding Officer (CO) of 4 Rajput Regiment, Major Upinder and four jawans. Sources said a detailed court of inquiry was conducted to establish culpability of the accused personnel.
Police had charged nine people in July 2010, including six Army personnel. But the probe was handed over to the Army after it was assured of a detailed inquiry into the encounter.
A senior Army official said the venue and date of the court martial proceedings would be decided soon.
“A very detailed and exhaustive inquiry was conducted with the assistance of state police and judicial department to summon witnesses, record evidence and establish culpability of the accused personnel,” a source said.
The parents and relatives of the slain youths were given fair opportunity to make their submissions during the investigations by the Army, sources said. Sources said after a detailed scrutiny of the incident, the Army has ordered court martial proceedings to take the legal process to a logical conclusion.

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