Srinagar, June 27: In a significant development, Jammu and Kashmir Police have sought the custody of an Army Colonel, a Major and five others for their custodial interrogation in the alleged fake encounter of three youth in Machil sector in frontier district of Kupwara in April this year.
“The Superintendent of Police, Sopur, has written to the Army’s Srinagar-based Corps Commander for custody of the Army colonel D K Pathania, Major Upinder and five others for their custodial interrogation,” a top police officer, wishing anonymity, told Greater Kashmir. “The custody of the accused has been sought for their sustained interrogation to bring the facts about the Machil fake encounter to light.”
The officer said the letter was sent to Army on Saturday. “We have asked them (Army) to expedite the process of handing over the Army officers and troopers so that investigation in the case proceeds without any hassles,” he said.
Army, according to sources, has been asked to handover its men as there was “enough evidence” to suggest their involvement in the killing of Muhammad Shafi, Shehzad Ahmed and Riyaz Ahmed of Nadihal in Varmul district in a fake encounter in Machil on April 30 by troopers of 4 Rajputana Rifles.
Sources said police have completed all formalities for filing a charge-sheet against Army and five personnel of other ranks besides three accomplices involved in the crime. “Police is waiting for the DNA report in the case following which the charge-sheet would be filed,” they said.
The Police have already arrested three persons including the Territorial Army trooper, Abbas Shah, former SPO, Bashir Lone and Army informer, Abdul Hamid for “luring” the three youth on promise of providing them jobs near the Line of Control in Machil sector. The youth, however, were gunned down and dubbed as “infiltrators” by Army.
On May 28, bodies of the three youth were exhumed at Kalaroos Kupwara by the district administration after their families identified them through their photographs, which appeared in local newspapers. The exhumation proved the youth were civilians killed in a “fake encounter.”
Following exhumation of bodies Army ordered a court of inquiry into the incident. In one of the applications, Army has sought the presence of the accused trio before the court of inquiry while in the other application it has sought the custody of TA trooper Shah Abbas.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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