DNA of 3 persons killed in Shopian encounter match with families from Rajouri: IGP

Srinagar, Sep 25: Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar on Friday said that the DNA samples of three persons, who were killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Army in south Kashmir district of Shopian, have matched with their families from Rajouri.

However, he said their involvement in militant activities is a matter of further investigation.

The Army had on July 18 claimed that three militants were killed in an encounter in village Amshipura in Shopian. But, Army initiated an inquiry into the encounter after it was claimed that the slain were from Rajouri and had gone missing. The families of the deceased had claimed that the trio was working as labourers and had gone missing in Amshipura.

“We have received DNA test results in Shopian case… the DNA samples of the deceased has matched the samples of their families from Rajouri. Further action will be taken in the case,” Mr Kumar told reporters during a press conference here on Friday.

Answering a question whether it had been established that the three men were labourers and not involved in any militant activities, Mr Kumar said the police are now taking up further investigations in the case.

After completing inquiry into the encounter, the Army said that the investigation has brought out certain prima facie evidence indicating that during the operation, powers vested under the AFSPA 1990 were exceeded and the Do’s and Don’ts of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as approved by the Supreme Court have been contravened.

In a statement issued earlier this month, the Army said the competent disciplinary authority has directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act against those found prima-facie answerable. “The evidence collected by the inquiry has prima-facie indicated that the three unidentified terrorists killed in operation Amshipora were Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohd Ibrar, who hailed from Rajouri. Their DNA report is awaited. Their involvement with terrorism or related activities is under investigation by the police,” it said.

“Indian Army is committed to ethical conduct of operations. Further updates on the case will be given periodically without affecting due process of the law of the land,” it added.