Conflict

Shopian Civilian Murders: Supreme Court stays FIR against Army Major

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has stayed the FIR lodged by the JK Police against Major Aditya in connection with the murder of three civilians in Shopian district.

This was informed by the Standing Counsel of the state Shoeb Alam. “The investigation [into the case] will go on,” he said.

ALSO READ: Shopian Civilian Murders: Continuous deaths and endless mourning

Earlier, The Indian Express had reported that the court has put a stay on the FIR.

The report said that the court has also issued a notice to the Centre and the JK government, while seeking a response within two weeks in this regard.

The court also ordered that no coercive action should be initiated against the Army personnel, said the report.

According to a report in the Indian Express, the Apex Court bench ordered that no coercive action should be initiated against the Army personnel.

The stay order comes after the accused Major’s father Lieutenant Colonel Karamveer Singh filed a petition claiming that the authorities were aware that the Major “was not there,” but “in an arbitrary exercise of power, named my son as an accused.”

ALSO READ: Accused Major’s father moves SC, says FIR will hurt the morale of the Army

He also added that the FIR will hurt the morale of the Army.

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The BJP, coalition partner of the ruling PDP had demanded that the FIR against the Army should  withdrawn and a new one lodged without naming anyone.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.

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