Jammu: Over three years after the Machchil fake encounter that fuelled widespread unrest in Kashmir Valley, the Army today ordered court martial against six of its men including a Colonel and a Major for allegedly gunning down three youths and labelling them as militants.
Official sources said today those who will face proceedings include Col D K Pathania, Commanding Officer (CO) of 4 Rajput Regiment, Major Upinder and four of its men.
The incident came to light on April 30, 2010 when bodies of three youths were shown by Army as militants who were trying to sneak into the Valley from higher reaches of Machchil in North Kashmir with arms and ammunition. It had later claimed that they were Pakistani terrorists.
However, it was established by the Jammu and Kashmir police that the unemployed youths—Mohamad Shafi, Shehzad Ahmed and Riyaz Ahmed—were residents of Nadihal in Baramulla district and apparently misled on the pretext of giving jobs and later shot dead.
The Police had chargesheeted nine people in July 2010 including six Army personnel but had to hand over the probe to the Army after it was assured of holding a detailed inquiry into the incident.
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