[REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE] File photo of an encounter in Shopian (Photo Credits: PTI)Prima facie evidence indicates that Indian Army personnel concerned exceeded powers vested in them under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.
An inquiry into the incident which resulted in the deaths of three men on July 18 has arrived at this conclusion.The internal inquiry was ordered by Army authorities into Operation Amshipora after the family of the three men killed alleged it was a "fake encounter" and that the men had nothing to do with militancy as claimed at the time.Army Chief told Aajtak and India on Friday that there will be zero tolerance towards any wrongdoings."The Amshipora case investigations will be conducted with utmost fairness and will be taken to their logical conclusion.
The Indian Army is committed to the professional conduct of operations.
It has zero-tolerance for violation of established guidelines while operating in disturbed areas," Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane said.According to the Indian Army, the inquiry has brought out certain prima facie evidence indicating that during the operation, powers vested under AFSPA, 1990 were exceeded and the "Do's and Don'ts of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as approved by the Supreme Court of India have been contravened".A court of inquiry has found Army officials guilty, subsequently recommending action under relevant sections of the Army Act against those found prima-facie answerable.Three Rajouri residents, namely Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohd Ibrar were killed in Operation Amshipora in July of this year.
DNA reports of the three deceased are still awaited while their alleged involvement with terrorism or related activities is being probed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police."Indian Army is committed to the ethical conduct of operations.
Further updates on the case will be given periodically without affecting the due process of the law of the land," the Army said in a statement on Friday.The inquiry was first initiated after family members of the three deceased alleged that this was a case of fake encounter and the boys had no links to any terror outfits.
Kin of the deceased, residents of Peeri Tehsil in Rajouri, had claimed that the boys left home on July 16 in search of work.
They managed to reach Shopian district where they rented a room and purchased a few essentials in light of the lockdown.