Macchil encounter: SHRC recommends probe into ‘illegal arms’

“From this whole drama (Macchil encounter) besides the tragic part that three innocent persons have been killed… I gather one more serious thing…the Army 4th Rajput have themselves shown that they are in possession of illegal arms,wireless sets and Pakistani currency which has allegedly been shown to have been recovered from the dead bodies of these three persons,” Kawoos said in the order passed last month.

“Can the Army high-ups look in the matter and investigate as to where from five AK 47 rifles,magazines,pistol ammunition,grenades,radio set and Pakistani currency were lying with the accused persons which after the fake encounter were allegedly shown to have been recovered from the slain militants (while as they are all innocent persons),” he said.

He said,”This is a racket going on within the disciplined forces… there should be no occasion that the army will be and should be in possession of unaccounted illegal arms and ammunition plus the Pakistani currency,unless the army is operating some counter operation.”

Three youth Shahzad Khan,Riyaz Ahmad Lone and Mohammad Shafi Lone were lured to a forward post on pretext of high paying jobs and killed in an alleged fake encounter by Army on April 30 last.

They were then labelled them as hardcore militants,who were attempting to infiltrate into the Valley.

Immediately after police removed the lid of the case,the state government too ordered a magisterial inquiry and the Army also ordered a probe and suspended an accused major and removed the commanding officer of the unit in June last year.

From all the reports and inquiry reports available on the file,it is clearly established that three innocent persons have lost their lives in a fake and false encounter as they have been projected to be militants only for vested interests to gain undue promotions,awards and rewards,Kawoos said.

He said the proceedings before the commission clearly show that the violations of human rights in the instant case have been carried out to the hilt.

“Therefore,I recommend that state government and district administration must sanction and pay ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh to the next of kins of the each deceased persons (if not already paid),” he said and also recommended government job to the next of kins.