At least four Army men, including an officer, have been prima facie found guilty of exceeding powers vested under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the controversial Shopian “encounter”, a top defence official said.

The Army has initiated the summary of evidence (SoE) against its personnel, including the officer, after the conclusion of the Court of Inquiry into the “encounter”.

Last week, the DNA samples of the three youths killed in Shopian had confirmed that the slain trio was from Rajouri who, the family alleged, was killed in a staged encounter.

“The SoE has been initiated against the erring Army men and it is being recorded by a senior Army officer based at the headquarters of the Army’s Victor Force. The outcome of the SoE will decide whether to initiate court martial proceedings against the four accused,” a senior defence official said.

He said the men had been prime facie found guilty for exceeding powers vested under the AFSPA and for contravening dos and don’ts of the Chief of Army Staff as approved by the Supreme Court.

The Army has already initiated disciplinary action in the case.

Top sources said the police had already detained at least three persons, who are being probed by them for their “role” in the encounter.

On July 18, the Army had said three unidentified militants who had fired at the soldiers were killed in a gunfight in Amshipora Shopian. The encounter came under a cloud a month later.

Courtesy : Daily Tribune:  30th September, 2020