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Seven Army men get life for fake encounter in Assam

The five victims belonged to All Assam Students Union. Current CM Sarbananda Sonowal was its president at the time

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A military court has sentenced seven Army men, including a Major General rank officer and two serving colonels, to life imprisonment for killing five men in a fake encounter in Assam 24 years ago.

The victims belonged to the All Assam Students Union (AASU), whose president at the time of the extrajudicial killings was Sarbananda Sonowal, the current chief minister.

The proceedings against the soldiers under military law started in July 2016 after the Central Bureau of Investigation indicted them for staged killing.

"A summary general court martial held at Dinjan has pronounced judgment in an encounter case of 1994 in North East. The judgment of life imprisonment needs to be confirmed by the competent authority and this may take 2-3 months," an army source said.

The crime, widely known as the Dangari encounter, unfolded after the Army picked up 9 AASU members. Five of them – Parabin Sonowal, Pradip Dutta, Debajit Biswas, Akhil Sonowal and Bhaben Moran – were killed.

The decision comes at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing cases about fake encounters in Manipur, prompting 355 Army personnel to move the court claiming that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that gives protection to forces has been diluted.

In the Dangari case, Major General AK Lal was earlier dismissed from service, but the Armed Forces Tribunal restored his retirement benefits.

The others to face action are two serving officers, Colonel Thomas Methew and Colonel RS Sibeiren; Junior Commissioned Officers who became honorary captains – Jagdeo Singh and Dileep Singh; two jawans, Naik Albindhar Singh and Naik Shivernder Singh.

This decision of the Army court is not final yet as the seven personnel have legal options. The order also has to be confirmed by the Army headquarters.

"The court martial proceedings were completed in two years after more than 30 witnesses were examined," said an Army source.

CM’S EX-COLLEAGUES

  • The five victims belonged to All Assam Students Union. Current CM Sarbananda Sonowal was its president at the time
     
  • The 7 Army personnel can challenge the decision in a civil court. Also, the order has to be confirmed by Army headquarters
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