Shopian (Kashmir): The Army Captain, who was involved in the alleged fake encounter here in July last year in which three youths were killed, had hatched a conspiracy along with two civilians. The Army Captain had the motive for ‘grabbing’ a reward money of Rs 20 lakh. He 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. Sources said he may face Court Martial proceedings.
The case relates to the July 18, 2020 encounter at Amshipura locality here. 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. They are Tabish Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone. The latter 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. The probe was completed in September last year. 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. The bodies were handed over to their families in Baramulla in October.
Officials in know of the development said the Captain may face a Court Martial proceeding for violating the powers vested under the AFSPA 1990. He will also be prosecuted 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 (SIT) of Jammu and Kashmir Police has listed 75 witnesses in support of its findings. It 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. They are Subedar Garu Ram, Lance Naik Ravi Kumar, Sepoys Ashwini Kumar and Yougesh. They 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. This was 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. “By staging the encounter,” the charge sheet said, Capt. Singh and two other civilians also ‘purposefully destroyed evidence of real crime that they have committed and also have been purposefully projecting false information as part of a criminal conspiracy hatched between them with motive to grab prize money of Rs 20 lakh’.