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| Army apologizes to JKP | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Oct 2
The Army has apologised to Jammu and Kashmir police personnel who were allegedly beaten up mercilessly by troops after the kerosene and petrol meant for army use was seized by the cops following allegations of selling the oil in open market.
After state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, police chief Kuldeep Khoda and Union Home Ministry adopted a tough posture by taking up the incident with the army, Maj Gen Rajinder Singh met the police at Magam police post in Kupwara district and apologised on behalf of his men, official sources said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has said it would continue with its investigation against the Major and 30 other personnel against whom a case was registered on September 26.
Senior police officials denied the claims made by Army spokesperson in Srinagar that a joint probe would be initiated in the case.
"There is no law under which army can probe any civilian matter and such statements are only intended to undo the misdeeds of some army personnel," a senior official of the state home department said.
The police registered an FIR against the Major of 33 Rashtriya Rifles and 30 jawans on the charge of attempt to murder when they beat the Sub-Inspector of Magam police post and five others who had intercepted a tractor-trolley containing petrol and kerosene of the army for sale in an open market.
The sources said Maj Gen Singh met all the policemen, including the Sub-inspector who was recovering in Soura Medical Institute from multiple fractures and head injuries, and apologised and assured such incidents would not recur.
The cops had seized the oil barrels after questioning of the the civilians accompanying the trolley claimed that they had come to sell it and proceeds had to be given to the Army officials, the sources said.
After this, the army men thrashed the policemen for intercepting the trolley and walked away with arms and ammuition and cash from the police.
According to a report submitted by the state police to Union Home Ministry, the army men walked away with Rs 35,000 in cash meant for Special Police Officers, mobile phone, one digital camera, a wrist watch, an AK-47 rifle, six magazines and 108 rounds of ammunition, the sources said.
The matter was taken up with the Home Ministry who took up the issue with Army and demanded immediate action in the matter.
Azad, who will be in capital later this week, is also slated to meet Defence Minister A K Antony and take up the issue as this would not help the over all situation in the militancy-hit state, sources said. |
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