Year after ‘encounter’ in Shopian district, father awaits justice

Srinagar, July 29

A little over a year has passed but an anxious father is still awaiting justice for his son and two others who were killed in a “fake” encounter by an Army officer in Shopian district.

And the wait gets longer as the Army is still finishing legal work six months after completion of its internal inquiry. The Army had completed its Summary of Evidence against two of its soldiers involved in the Amshipura encounter and indications were that a court martial proceeding against one officer would be initiated.

Delay in probe

Army's internal probe completed over six months ago, but legal formalities are still going on

The Amshipura encounter on July 18 last year had left three youths dead

Father of one of the victims says his hope is diminishing as process hasn’t been moving since December

In a parallel inquiry, a special investigation team constituted by the J&K Police had filed chargesheet against three persons, including Captain Bhoopendra Singh, for the encounter on July 18 last year that killed Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrar, hailing from Rajouri district.

An Army officer said, “We will be completing the process soon and the person concerned is still in Army custody.”

Mohammed Yusuf, father of Abrar Ahmed, said, “I was very satisfied earlier with the pace of the probe but now my hope has started diminishing as nothing is moving since last December. I have received Rs 5 lakh from the administration. Is that the price of my innocent son and others killed in cold blood?”

“God forbid, if my son would have been a militant, me and my entire family would have been behind bars. Now, when everyone says they were killed in a cold blooded murder, what is taking it so long. Justice delayed is also justice denied,” said Yusuf. — PTI

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.