Lt Col among six to face court martial for killing three in Machil sector.
Indian army has decided to court martial six of its men including a colonel and major in the 2010 Machil fake encounter case in which three youth were branded infiltrators and killed on the Line of Control.
Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Udhampur-based Northern Command, told dna the army has ordered the disciplinary proceedings against the accused personnel involved in the 2010 alleged Machil fake encounter.
“After detailed scrutiny of the complete incident and any wrongdoings committed by the personnel concerned, Army has ordered court martial proceedings to take the legal process to a logical conclusion highlighting the army’s resolve of ensuring justice with speed,” said Lt Col Kalia.
Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Shafi Lone and Riyaz Ahmad Lone of Nadihal Rafiabad, Sopore were lured to work as porters for the army and promised good money for the job. Instead they were taken to Machil where they were handed over to the army who killed them in alleged fake encounter branding them infiltrators on April 30, 2010, three days after they went missing.
Sources said all the three civilian were killed for incentives and rewards. The three accused -- surrendered militant turned special police official Bashir Ahmad, his accomplice and Syed Abbas working in Territorial Army-- had allegedly got Rs50,000 each for getting three civilians killed.
Under the cash-for-kill policy, security forces get reward money for eliminating the militants in the encounter. For instance, Rs2.5 lakh is given as cash reward for killing the A-grade militant. Plus there are different price tags on top commanders of militants in Kashmir. Some militant
commanders carry Rs10 lakh award on their heads and in case they are killed or arrested this booty is shared by the soldiers and informers who are instrumental in the operation.
Anger had swept across Kashmir after the killing of three youth. The incident had sown the seeds of the 2010 agitation which killed 120 people in Kashmir.
Police had promptly registered a case and filed a 600-page chargesheet in the local court at Sopore charging 11 men including surrendered militant Bashir Ahmad Lone, Abdul Hamid, Syed Abbas ofTerritorial Army, Colonel DK Pathania who was commanding officer of 4-Rajput, Major Moriya, who was the adjutant and Major Upinder.
Others who were chargesheeted by police include Subedar Satbir Singh, Havldar Bur Singh, Sepoy Chandra Bhan, Sepoy Naginder Singh and Narinder Singh. Under pressure the army removed Col Pathania from the command and suspended Major Upinder pending enquiry. Police have already arrested Syed Abbas, Bashir Lone and Abdul Hamid in this case.
Army also ordered a high level court of enquiry by a brigadier level officer which has submitted the report after collecting the summery of evidence recommending the court martial proceedings against six men including Col Pathania, Major Upinder and four other ranks.
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