New Delhi: The army has found “prima facie” evidence that its jawans violated the powers granted under the Armed Forces Privilege Act (AFSPA) in an encounter in Shopian district of Kashmir. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated in this regard. Officials gave this information on Friday.
The encounter took place in July this year and three people were killed in it. The army claimed to have killed three militants on July 18 in Amshipura village of Shopian district in south Kashmir.
Defense spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said that the army committed to ethical conduct during the counter-terrorism operations started the investigation after reports surfaced on social media which claimed that three persons from Rajouri district of Jammu The missing were found from Amshipura. The investigation was completed within four weeks.
The army said in a brief statement that the investigation revealed certain evidence indicating that the powers vested under the AFSPA, 1990 were misused during the campaign and violated the rules laid down by the Supreme Court-sanctioned army chief. .
Accordingly, the competent disciplinary authority has, as a result, directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act against soldiers found prima facie accountable.
