Union defence minister AK Antony has assured Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saifuddin Soz that the inquiry instituted to look into the killing of three youths on the LoC in Machil sector and other inquiries of human rights violations in the Valley, would be taken to their logical conclusion.
Soz, who met Antony in New Delhi on Wednesday, discussed various issues pertaining to Kashmir, including the killing of three youths by troopers of 4 Rajput Rifles on the LoC on April 30.
On April 29, three youths of Nadihal village were allegedly lured by two counterinsurgents and territorial Army personnel up to the LoC in Machil sector. Next day, the troopers of 4 Rajput Rifles unit were said to have killed them in a staged encounter on the LoC. After bodies of the three were exhumed by the police from a local graveyard, it was revealed that the Army had dubbed the killed civilians as infiltrators. The deaths sparked massive protests across Kashmir .
“About the Machil fake encounter and certain other incidents, the defence minister assured that the inquiries that had been instituted regarding the alleged killings would certainly come to their logical conclusions,” Soz said. “The defence minister has assured me that persons found guilty of committing the crimes would not be spared whosoever might be involved.”
The police have already arrested two counter-insurgents and a territorial Army personnel. All the three are at present in judicial custody. The Army has already constituted a Court of Inquiry headed by a senior Army officer. The Army has suspended a major and attached commanding officer of the 4 Rajput Rifles unit.
Soz also said Antony had reiterated his consistent stand that there should be zero tolerance for human rights violations. “He (Defence Minister) made his perception on human rights known to the Armed Forces and there was no question of any compromise on the basic principle of governance,” he said.