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| Army accepts charge, indicts its men for “lapse” in Bomai killings | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, March 20: Under tremendous pressure especially from the Ministry of Defense, the army has completed the internal inquiry into the Bomai incident and has indicted three of its men including a Junior Commissioned Officer for the killings that has turned a major flashpoint for the army.
“The high level Army Court of Inquiry headed by a Brigadier has been completed. The Inquiry has held the Junior Commissioned Officer and two soldiers of 22 Rashtriya Rifles, who were involved in the Bumai incident accountable for various lapses,” said a defense minister spokesman based in Srinagar.
While the JCO has been indicted for its failure to command its sub-ordinates, the soldiers have been held responsible for failing to restrain weapons during the incident.
“The charges besides the failure to exercise desired command and control by the Junior Commissioned Officer also encompasses failure by two soldiers to exercise restraint in the handling of their weapons during the incident,” the spokesman added.
The army, he said has also initiated the disciplinary action after directions by General Officer Commanding of Counter Insurgency Force (Kilo) against the three personnel.
The enquiry follows the probe by the civil administration earlier this month which also pointed fingers at the army and categorically rubbished the cross-firing claims, previous, by the troops, saying the bullets found in the two bodies were of same sequence and were fired from the Army rifles.
The army, probably for the first time, has expressed flexibility on account “any extra charge” by the police.
“The Army has further stated that any additional charges that may be brought out by Police investigations will be dealt with as per the law,” the spokesman said.
Pertinently, On 21 February last month, troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles sans any provocation killed two innocent civilians while left another critically wounded at Bomai village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The incident triggered massive protests across the valley especially in Sopore town while army came under severe criticism from various quarters especially after the magisterial probe conducted into the incident following assurance from the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who time and again has reiterated to hand down ‘exemplary punishment’ to the culprits.
It is learnt that the Ministry of Defense yesterday was directed by the army to submit a detailed report within two days to clarify its position on the matter. “The ministry is livid over the fact that almost a month after the incident, the Army is yet to come clear with its probe while the District Magistrate has already submitted his report to the Government,” sources said.
The incident also created political uproar by both mainstream and pro-freedom groups in the state which eventually prompted Omar Abdullah to meet union defense minister, AK Antony while the issue, sources told PBI, was also raised during the Unified Command meeting in Jammu which was chaired by union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor also assured action against “anyone found guilty”.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Ali Mohammad Sagar has assured that those responsible for killing of a person at Khaigam will be severely punished, even as CRPF has placed under suspension one Assistant Commandant and four jawans. A case under Section 302 Cr PC has been registered.
Mr. Sagar said this while addressing a public gathering on Thursday at Khaigam, where he visited the village to assess the situation which has emerged following the killing of a person yesterday. He was accompanied by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr. Masaud Samoon and senior police officers.
The Minister said a magisterial enquiry would be ordered to investigate the matter and those found guilty would be severely punished.
While referring to the demand of the villagers regarding shifting of the CRPF camp from the village, the Minister said the matter will be taken up with the concerned authorities at the highest level. He assured the people that the human rights violations will not be tolerated at any cost, adding that the present Government was committed to protect the rights of its citizens.
Expressing sympathy with the bereaved family, the Minister announced ex gratia relief to the next of the kin of the deceased and Government job to his younger brother. He also said the Government will sanction scholarship in favour of the young children of the deceased as well as old-age pension for his parents.
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