Shopian encounter: Police charge sheet says Army captain, 2 others attempted to destroy evidence

The Army captain concerned within the pretend encounter in Kashmir’s Shopian district final July and two different civilian accused have not offered any details about the supply of weapons planted on the three slain youths and had additionally attempted to destroy the evidence, a police charge sheet mentioned.

Captain Bhoopendra Singh had additionally offered incorrect info to his superiors and the police in regards to the restoration made throughout the staged encounter, the charge sheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police earlier than the chief judicial Justice of the Peace right here mentioned.

The case relates to the July 18, 2020 encounter in Shopian’s Amshipura during which three youths have been killed and dubbed as terrorists. Later, the Army ordered a Court of Inquiry after stories appeared on social media that the three youths have been harmless.

“No leads regarding the source of illegal weapons as illegally arranged by accused” for planting on the our bodies have been offered, the charge sheet mentioned.

“By staging the encounter,” the three accused (*2*) it mentioned.

The Army, nevertheless, had denied that its captain staged the encounter for Rs 20 lakh, saying there was no system of money rewards for its personnel for any acts in fight conditions or in any other case within the line of obligation.

“The evidence was destroyed by accused Captain Singh,” the charge sheet mentioned.

Singh, who has been positioned below detention, together with the opposite two accused – Tabish Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone – set fireplace to a shelter on the encounter website, in accordance to the charge sheet.

The accused captain was in contact with Fayaz Ahmed, a particular police officer (SPO) posted with the Special Operations Group, by two cellular numbers registered within the identify of civilians.

Ahmed, who’s listed as a witness on this case, was approached by Singh for arranging weapons. A resident of Poonch in Jammu area, Ahmed gave his assertion below Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) earlier than a Justice of the Peace.

The SIT charge sheet gave particulars of forensic evaluation of the crime scene which was photographed “from all possible perspectives”. The FSL (Forensic and Scientific Laboratory) crew recovered very important evidence that was seized.

Based on responses filed by 62 Rashtriya Rifles to the SIT about particulars of the ammunition fired throughout the incident together with a duplicate of SITREP (Situation Report), the “accused captain had claimed to have (sic) fired a total of 37 rounds from his service rifle”.

The Army, in its FIR registered at Heerpora police station, had claimed that primarily based on “their own input about hiding of unknown terrorists in village Amshipora”, the encounter was launched on July 17, 2020 throughout which three unidentified hardcore terrorists have been neutralised.

Two pistols with two magazines and 4 empty pistol cartridges, 15 stay cartridges and 15 empty cartridges of AK collection weapon and different objectionable objects have been recovered from the encounter website.

However, throughout the ballistic and forensic examination of the scene of crime, 4 empty cartridges have been recovered – two of which have been from 7.65 mm and two from 9 mm pistols (utilized by the Army).

“The seized fifteen 7.62×39 mm rifle cartridge cases (used in AK rifles) were found to have been fired from more than four firearms.

“From the circumstances on the crime scene that are opposite to the findings of the ballistic professional opinion the model of the accused captain Bhoopendra Singh… concerning info furnished by him in FIR just isn’t supported.” There was no seizure of AK rifles from the staged encounter.

The Army, which has also completed its Court of Inquiry and Summary of Evidence, had found “prima facie” evidence that troops had “exceeded” powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) during the encounter in which the three youths were killed.

Following this, the Army had initiated disciplinary proceedings.

The three youths killed in Amshipura were Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrar, all hailing from Rajouri district. Their identities were subsequently confirmed through a DNA test and the bodies were handed over to their families in Baramulla in October last year.

The charge sheet said the Army captain had taken a private car on the day of the encounter.

Aijaz Ahmed Lone, the vehicle owner, gave a statement under oath before a magistrate that Army personnel had approached him at his residence on July 17 last year and taken his car.

Subsequently, on the day of the encounter, the Army informed him that his vehicle was stationed at Amshipura Nar “in a defective situation”.

General Officer in Command of XV Corps Lt Gen B S Raju had mentioned earlier that the Summary of Evidence had been accomplished and the Army will take the subsequent plan of action as per the regulation.

Officials within the know of the event mentioned Singh could face a Court Martial continuing for violating the powers vested below the AFSPA and never following the dos and don’ts of the Chief of Army Staff as authorised by the Supreme Court.

The charge sheet submitted by the SIT has listed 75 witnesses in help of its findings and has additionally offered technical evidence together with name knowledge information of the accused individuals.