Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 9: The Narendra Modi Government's Friday decision to file plea in the Supreme Court challenging the highly controversial FIR registered against Major Aditya Kumar of 10 Garhwal Rifles for his role in the alleged Shopian firing in which three persons were killed in January this year is a great step in the right direction. It will boost the morale of the forces involved in anti-insurgency operations in J&K and will also send a right message that the Union Government stands firmly behind its armed forces who are fighting in hostile environment risking their lives and limbs.
Earlier, advocate Aishwarya Bhati had filed the petition on behalf of Kumar's father, serving Lieutenant Colonel Karamveer Singh. Considering the petition, the Supreme Court had had stayed, 'till next hearing", the investigation into the case on the basis of the FIR. It fixed the matter for final hearing and disposal of the case on April 24. The apex court's direction came after the J&K government informed the court that the "name of Major Aditya Kumar of 10 Garhwal Rifles was not mentioned in the FIR lodged by the J&K Police". The Supreme Court had thereafter sought the J&K government's and the Union government's reply in the matter two weeks ago.
While hearing the case last month, the Supreme Court had, in adition, ordered that "no coercive action should be initiated against Kumar" and the Union Government had supported the plea.
In his petition the Supreme Court, Singh had claimed that "the firing was undertaken to control 'a savage and violent mob engaged in terrorist activity' and that 'the FIR violated the fundamental rights' of his son". Major Aditya's father, Lt Col Singh, had added that the "petition was submitted for protecting the morale of the soldiers of Indian Army, who are facing all odds in performance of their bonafide duties and laying their lives in the line of duty, to uphold the dignity of the Indian flag".
The decision of the Union Government to defend Major Aditya in the Supreme Court could be considered a tight slap on the face of those who had condemned Major Aditya as a "murderer of civilians" and told the Supreme Court that the Army didn't have the "license to kill". |
