Shopian killing: Army not to set up any inquiry against Major Aditya

New Delhi: Indian Army will not constitute any Court of Inquiry (CoI) against Major Aditya in connection with the killing of two youths in Sophian’s Ganowpora village on Saturday afternoon, sources in the Army said.However, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have already registered a case against the Major and his Army unit, 10 Garhwal Rifles.

“The CoI will not be set up against Major Aditya as he did not violate the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP). The state administration has already constituted a probe team they will file the report in 20 days,” sources said.The incident happened when the 10 Garhwal Rifles was being replaced by another unit. 

There were two routes and they were supposed to move to Balpura. In one route, there was stone pelting in the morning and hence the 20 vehicle convoy, including three Quick Reaction Team (QRT), decided to take the Ganowpora road. At one point in the route, the vehicles were to take a right turn. However, three vehicles missed the turn and went ahead by about 100 metres. 

“While reversing , over 200-250 protestors started pelting stones at the convoy. A JCO, who got off the vehicle to assess the situation, was hit in the head and collapsed. As the crowd became more belligerent, the army personnel shot in the air in their self defence. It is only when the crowd, which continued to pelt stones,came too close that the Army opened fire,” the sources added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had spoken to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and asked her to look into the matter. Since 2001, the State police have sought permission 51 times to prosecute army personnel but the Centre has denied permission in 47 cases and the request in three cases are still pending.(UNI)