By News Agency of Kashmir,
Doda : Jammu and Kashmir police today booked an army Major and some jawans for allegedly killing a surrendered militant in a fake encounter at Angate Gali area of Bari Dokh in Gandoh Tehsil of Doda.
The deceased villager, who had surrendered before police on August 4, was allegedly picked up by the troops of 26 RR and killed in a fake encounter at Angate Gali in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district.
Reports said that army claimed to have killed a militant in an encounter Tuesday but their claim was rebuffed by the locals saying that the deceased was a local trader Mohammad Aslam Malik son of a retired police officer Muhammad Iqbal Malik, who had gone to collect money from the shopkeepers and did not return back.
Soon after the news of his killing spread in the area people assembled at Malikpura and protest against the troops of 26 RR whom they accused of killing the trader in a fake encounter.
Father of the deceased claimed that his son Aslam was kidnapped by the militants in the month of June and after one and a half month he escaped from their hideout and surrender before the then SSP operation Mahon Lal in Doda.
The pressure generated by the local, however, forced the police to register a case against the army personnel.
When contacted Additional Superintendent of Police Bhaderwah, A R Katoch told News Agency of Kashmir that a case has been registered against a company commander (Major) and his other associates of 26 RR, allegedly responsible for the killing.
“We have booked the army major and his other associates under section 364/302 RPC” he said adding the investigation team led by Inspector Tilak Raj has been deputed to the site of encounter and after verifying the truth action will be taken against those found guilty.
He said that the deceased had surrendered before police on August 4, 2008. However no recovery was made from him at that time.
He said police was not part of this encounter as claimed by the army. However after receipt of information about the killing of militant police party visited the area.
Army on the other hand denied the allegations of fake encounter and claimed that the decease was a militant killed in an encounter with the troopers.
Giving details, Defence Spokesman Lt Col SD Goswami, said that on specific information about presence of 2-3 militants in the area, a column of 26 RR and police launched a joint search operation. “As the troops zeroed in the hideout the militants fired on troops and in retaliation one militant was killed.
He identified slain militant as Muhammad Aslam Malik son Iqbal Malik of Gandoh and said that the same militant had surrendered before police and troops of 26 RR.
“Aslam was hobnobbing with the militants and was killed in joint operation with the police and Army”, Goswami said adding 30 rounds, 2 grenades,3 mobile Sim cards, injectable drugs with syringes and other incriminatory documents were recovered from the possession of the slain militant.
People of the area alleged that the decease trader was not involved in any militancy related activity and was kidnapped by the militants. “He escaped from the clutches of militants and surrendered before the police”, a local villager told NAK alleging that the troops of 26 RR were not happy over the surrender before SSP Doda on August 4 as they wanted him to surrender before 26 RR, which according the villagers become the reason of his cold blooded murder.