‘Army officer staged encounter for ₹20L’

CAPT BHOOPINDER SINGH WHO IS CURRENTLY IN ARMY CUSTODY MAY FACE COURT MARTIAL PROCEEDINGS, OFFICIALS SAID

SHOPIAN: The army captain, who was involved in the alleged fake encounter in Shopian in July last year in which three youths were killed, had hatched a conspiracy along with two civilians with the motive for “grabbing” a reward money of ₹20 lakh and also fired at the victims even before his men could lay a cordon of the area, according to a police charge sheet.

Captain Bhoopinder Singh is currently in the custody of the army, with people aware of the matter saying he may face court martial proceedings.

The case relates to the July 18, 2020 encounter at Amshipura here in which three youths of Rajouri district -- Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrar -- were killed and branded as terrorists.the charge sheet submitted before the chief judicial magistrate of this district also details the role of the two civilians -- Tabish Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone -- in the case. Lone has since turned an approver and recorded his confession statement before a magistrate.

After reports emerged on social media that the three youths were not associated with terrorism, the army had ordered a Court of Inquiry which completed its probe earlier in September. It had found “prima facie” evidence that the troops had “exceeded” the powers granted under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Following this, the army had initiated disciplinary proceedings.

The identities of the three youths killed in Amshipura were confirmed through a DNA test and the bodies were handed over to their families in Baramulla in October. General officer in Command of the strategically-located XV Corps, Lt Gen B S Raju had said earlier the Summary of Evidence had been completed and the Army will take the next course of action as per law.

Officials in know of the development said the captain may face a court martial proceedings for violating the powers vested under the AFSPA 1990 and for not following the dos and don’ts of the chief of army staff as approved by the Supreme Court.

The charge sheet submitted by the Special Investigation Team of Jammu and Kashmir Police has listed 75 witnesses in support of its findings and has also provided technical evidence including call data records of the accused persons involved in the case.

The charge sheet also has the statements of four army personnel -- Subedar Garu Ram, Lance Naik Ravi Kumar, Sepoys Ashwini Kumar and Yougesh -- who were part of Capt Singh’s team at the time of the incident.

They said that all of them along with the two civilians had left the army camp together as there were reliable inputs that a contact with terrorists was possible, according to the charge sheet. On reaching the spot, all the four were asked to cordon off from different directions. “…as they were approaching the spot on foot after disembarking from the vehicle they heard a few bursts of live ammunition even before they had laid the cordon,” said the charge sheet, quoting the statements of the four.

Later Capt. Singh told them that he had to fire as the hiding militants were trying to escape.