Army Court recommends life term for Captain in Àmishpora ‘staged encounter’. Mohd Yusuf father of late Abrar welcomed Court’s decision.

GNSONLINE RAJOURI 
SHYAM SOOD 

RAJOURI MARCH 05:–According to media reports the Army Court has recommended to higher authorities life imprisonment for a Captain in connection with the killing of three youths from Rajouri district in a ‘staged encounter’ at Amishpora village in Shopian district in South Kashmir on the intervening night of July 17 & 18 in 2020.
On July 19, the army announced that three terrorists had been killed in the encounter, which had taken place following a cordon-and-search operation in Amshipora.
Mohd Yusuf (55) father of one of the killed youths namely Abrar Ahmed when contacted has welcomed the Army Court’s recommendation for life imprisonment to Captain Bhupinder of Army’s 62 RR.
“My son (Abrar Ahmed) was the only earning hand in the family. He managed the marriages of two sisters, helped his brother in his studies, and also constructing a house when was killed” said Mohd Yusuf.
“After the death of Abrar we are facing lot of problems. Even to date I have about Rs 2 lakh in fighting the case in the civil court. We received Rs 5 lakh compensation from government, out of which my share was Rs 1.50 lakh, Abrar’s wife received Rs 1.50 lakh, and his minor son’s share was Rs 2 lakh” said Mohd Yusuf.
Mohd Yusuf presently looking after his wife, daughter, Abrar’s wife, and his minor son Anees Ahmed (5) & his source of income is agriculture.
He also expressed his resentment as the government job promised to Abrar’s wife is still pending.
Media reports said that Army has completed general court-martial proceedings and recommended to higher authorities life imprisonment for the Captain involved in an alleged ‘staged encounter’.
Mohd Abrar (16), Imityaz Ahmed (21) both residents of Dhar Sakri, and Abrar Ahmed (25) s/o Mohd Yusuf, had gone to Shopian to work as labourers but allegedly were killed in a staged encounter.
After no contact was established with these youths, family members approached Rajouri police about their missing.
Meanwhile, Kashmir police released the photos of the 3 terrorists killed by the army in Amshipora on social media platform and were recognised by families as Abrar, Imtiaz & Abrar r/o Rajouri district who were innocent and had gone for working as labourers.
On families’ claims, the Army and the police ordered separate inquiries into the matter.
August 13 2020 DNA samples of the families were lifted by the police & sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for comparison with the already collected DNA samples of the alleged slain three unidentified militants.
In the month of September the DNA samples of slain unidentified militants matched with the DNA samples of the parents/family members.
The Army also initiated disciplinary action against unnamed soldiers and officers involved in the Amshipora encounter & accepted that its men prima facie violated powers under the AFSPA.
On October 3, the bodies of three youths were exhumed and handed over to families to be buried at their native villages.
The other two named by the police in its charge sheet are Tabish Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone, both civilians.
In this case, police had also constituted SIT to investigate the fake encounter and the SIT has filed chargesheet in the court of Principal District & Sessions Judge, Shopian against three persons, including an Army captain.
The other two named by the police in its charge sheet are Tabish Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone, both civilians.