New Delhi (NVI): The Army today said that as per the inquiry conducted by it in the Shopian encounter, in which three youths were killed, the prima facie evidence indicates that the powers vested under the AFSPA act were “contravened” by the troops and that it has initiated disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act in the case.
After the July 18 encounter in Ashimpora area of Shopian, the Army had said that three militants were killed in an operation.
However, when there several social media posts claiming that the three youths killed were from Rajouri and were not militants, the Army took cognizance and ordered a thorough probe.
“The inquiry has brought out certain prima facie evidence indicating that during the operation, powers vested under the AFSPA 1990 were exceeded and the Do’s and Don’ts of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court have been contravened,” said defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia.
“Consequently, the competent disciplinary authority has directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act against those found prima-facie answerable,” Kalia said.
Days after the killings of three youths, their families in Rajouri had registered a police complaint that the pictures of three youths being circulated on social media are that of their wards and they had gone to Shopian to work as labourers.
“The evidence collected by the inquiry has prima-facie indicated that the three unidentified terrorists killed in Op Amshipora were Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohd Ibrar, who hailed from Rajouri. Their DNA report is awaited. Their involvement with terrorism or related activities is under investigation by the police,” the defence spokesman said while adding that the Army is committed to ethical conduct of operations.
“Further updates on the case will be given periodically without affecting due process of the law of the land,” he added.
