Conflict
Shopian Civilian Murders: Accused Major’s father moves SC, says FIR will hurt the morale of the Army
Srinagar: The father of Major Aditya, who has been named in the FIR lodged in the Shopian Civilian Murders, has moved the Supreme Court for quashing the FIR, reported the Times of India.
Major’s father, in his petition has said that the FIR lodged against Aditya and the 10 Garwhal Rifles for Murder and Attempt to Murder, will ‘hurt the morale’ of the Army.
He also added in his petition while mentioning a report said that the authorities were aware that the Major “was not there,” but “in an arbitrary exercise of power, named my son as an accused.”
“Army personnel present there were doing lawful military duty peacefully and who, by violent actions of the mob, were forced to take lawful actions for protection of government property without any excessive use of force,” report mentioned the petition.
Last month two civilian were murdered by the Army after a crowd threw stones at them. They had come to remove ‘black banners’ which the people didn’t allow.
The army according to eyewitnesses retaliated with firing. Witnesses added that army fired upon youth directly resulting in the injuries of at least 11 persons.
Another youth who was injured in the incident succumbed to his injuries taking the toll to three. Shopian observed a complete shutdown against the killings for about 10 days.
The Army on Wednesday however said that they fired in ‘self defence’ after they were provoked to the ‘ultimate’ by a stone throwing crowd.
The BJP, coalition partner of the ruling PDP had demanded that the FIR against the Army should withdrawn and a new one lodged without naming anyone. However, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the investigation would be taken to its ‘logical end.’
A BJP leader Subramanian Swamy threatened Mehbooba Mufti to withdraw the FIR against the army otherwise her government would be toppled.
“What’s this nonsense? Dismiss that government. Tell Mehbooba (Mufti) to withdraw the FIR else her government would be toppled,” Swamy told ANI.
