Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 13: An Army court has given lifer to seven Army personnel including two officers in Macchil fake encounter killing of three youth that led to massive unrest in 2010 in Kashmir valley in which over 100 civilians were killed.
Those convicted by Army Court Martial include the then Commanding Officer of the 4 Rajput regiment Col DK Pathania , Captain Upendra Singh, Subedar Satbir Singh, Havaldar Bir Singh, Sepoy Chadraban, Sepoy Nagendra Singh and Sepoy Narinder Singh.
However, the convicted Army personnel can appeal before Armed Forces Tribunal Court once the verdict is announced officially. The sentence handed over by the Army Court Martial will first be confirmed by the Northern Army Commander before it is scrutinized by the Army’s legal department for any legal lacunae. It will then go to the Army headquarters for final confirmation by Army Chief.
Farooq Ahmad, brother of one of the victims Riyaz Ahmad said here: “We are very happy with the verdict, but we want all of them to be hanged for what they have done to. They killed my brother for their promotion and award. We have waited for four long years for this verdict. Every day we all family members used to cry for my brother.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has welcomed the conviction of the Army personnel. “The Army has handed out life sentences to seven inc the Commanding officer in the Machil fake encounter case of 2010. This is indeed a very welcome step,” Omar tweeted today.
Omar described the verdict as watershed moment. “This is a watershed moment. No one in Kashmir ever believed that justice would be done in such cases. Faith in institutions disappeared. I hope that we never see such #Machil fake encounter type of incidents ever again and let this serve as a warning to those tempted to try”, he said in his tweet.
The fake encounter incident took place in April 2010, when Army said that it had killed three infiltrators in the Machil sector and claimed they were Pakistani militants. The men were later identified as Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Riyaz Ahmad Lone and Muhammad Shafi Lone, all residents of Baramulla district.
The families of the deceased claimed the Army had lured the three to a border area promising them jobs and money before later killing them near the LoC.
The killings sparked widespread protests in Kashmir valley, leading to summer agitation in which 112 people were killed.
The court martial proceedings against the Army men began in January this year and ended in September.
Congress President Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz termed the verdict as a historic decision. “Army’s decision has let whole country know that within the system of Army accused won’t be spared. It is a good decision by Army after a long time. I am happy within the system Army officers who were involved in Machil killings have been punished”, he said.
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