The Indian Army on Wednesday formally approached Jammu and Kashmir police with their version of the Shopian firing incident that left three civilians dead and reignited a debate over alleged excesses by security forces in the militancy-ravaged state.
While two civilians were killed on Saturday in the firing by army personnel on a group of protesters, one of the nine injured died at a hospital on Wednesday.
The army’s written rebuttal came after police decided to investigate the role of several army personnel of the 10th Garhwal battalion, including a major in the incident. The FIR has several sections including “murder and attempt to murder”.
“We have received (the) army’s version of the complaint and it has been made part of the file,” said Shopian senior superintendent of police Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar.
“There has been no separate FIR but their version is taken on record,” he said. He, however, did not divulge the details of the army document.
The army’s Srinagar-based spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia did not respond to HT calls despite repeated attempts.
The army claims that soldiers fired on protesters in “self-defence” to prevent the lynching of an officer, snatching of weapons by villagers and burning of their vehicles.
Eye-witnesses in Ganawpora village, where the incident took place, however, alleged that soldiers fired after a confrontation with villagers over the removal of an Islamic banner.
Suhail Lone and Javid Bhat, both in their 20s, were killed on Saturday while Rayees Ahmed Ganai died on Wednesday.
The FIR against army personnel has kicked off a controversy and led to difference of opinion in the coalition partners in the state –the PDP and BJP.
After BJP lawmakers on Monday demanded withdrawal of the FIR against the army, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the charges won’t demoralise the army. It was the duty of the government to take the FIR to its logical conclusion, she said.
The state government has also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
The case could also prove a test for AFSPA or the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives special powers to army officers for detaining, using lethal force and entering and searching premises without warrant.
Rights activists have been demanding repeal of the Act but the defence ministry defends it on the grounds of battling armed insurgents.
Source: HindustanTimes