Three Kashmiris slain in fake encounter: army

The army yesterday said its soldiers exceeded their powers during an alleged “fake encounter” operation in Kashmir that killed three men, in a rare admission of wrongdoing in the region.

The three men — cousins whom the army claimed were suspected “terrorists” — were killed in a counterinsurgency operation on July 18 in the southern Kashmir valley, and buried in remote border area.

But their families, who identified their bodies from pictures on social media, said they were local labourers. The incident generated outrage in Kashmir, with political groups, rights activists and many residents demanding an independent probe into the deaths.

Army spokesman Rajesh Kalia yesterday said the soldiers on the operation had “exceeded” their powers and “contravened” the guidelines governing military conduct in Kashmir.

“Disciplinary proceedings” would be taken against those responsible, Kalia added.

A concurrent police investigation into the killing had yet to establish the involvement of the three men “with terrorism or related activities,” the army statement added.

Police normally accompany soldiers on such operations, although officials said this had not happened on the July operation.

The men’s families say the awaited results of a DNA test ordered as part of the investigation will prove they were local men.

The “fake encounter” in July revived memories of similar incidents across the territory.

In 2010, three army officers were found guilty of killing three labourers who had been branded as infiltrators near the border know as the Line of Control.

The killings sparked months of protests that left more than 100 civilians dead.

In 2000, the army claimed it had killed five “terrorists” responsible for the massacre of 35 Sikhs, but an investigation found the five were locals killed by soldiers in a staged gun battle.