The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into a 15-month-old encounter in which the Army had claimed to have gunned down seven militants in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The probe has come after the Union Home Ministry sought the magisterial inquiry reports of around two dozen encounters, in which security officials had been recommended for gallantry awards. Officials privy to the cases said that J&K police has sought the inquiry reports of those encounters. In February 2014, the Army claimed to have killed seven militants in an encounter that took place in Dardpora forests. Soon after, protests broke out in the area and some villagers alleged that the militants were killed in a staged encounter. [related-post] Deputy Commissioner Kupwara K Ranjan said the inquiry has been initiated after the Union government returned the cases that had been recommended by the J&K government for gallantry awards. “Inquiry will be ordered in other cases that happened in the district in past few years,” he said. Ranjan has asked Additional Deputy Commissioner (Kupwara) to conduct the magisterial inquiry. Sources said the government has already issued directives to the DCs of other districts. “In J&K, many security force personnel were given gallantry awards. But from now, the MHA will be following a strict procedure, as per directions of the NHRC and the Supreme Court,’’ an official said. In the past few years, many encounters have taken place along the Line of Control. On the basis of these encounters, many officials were awarded out of turn promotions and had been given gallantry awards.
