Srinagar, April 21: Under fire from opposition over the killing of a 65-year-old beggar by the army in an alleged fake encounter, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that those responsible for shedding blood of innocent people will not be allowed to go scot-free.
“We will ensure justice to every sufferer as has been done by us in various such cases during the past 15 months,” Omar said while addressing a gathering in Kupwara district.
The army had, last Wednesday, claimed that troopers of 6 Rashtriya Riffles killed an unidentified militant in an encounter at Rainawari forest near Pahaldagi village of Handwara district in north Kashmir. They also claimed to have seized an AK assault rifle along with four magazines and 67 rounds from his possession. Three days later, the slain man was identified as Habibullah Khan, a beggar, who had gone missing from Devar-Lolaab in Kupwara district.
Reiterating his government’s determination to protect and uphold human rights under all circumstances, Omar said no compromise would be made on the issue of human rights violation. “My government’s track record speaks loud and clear about its commitment for zero tolerance against violation of human rights,” he said. Police have registered a case of murder under section 302 Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) against the armymen.
Defence spokesman at Srinagar Lt Col JS Brar said terrorists had been possibly using the deceased as a guide or human shield. “The weapon and ammunition recovered were possibly dropped by the fleeing terrorists,” he said.
—Agencies