Srinagar: The Indian Army on Friday admitted that its troops killed three young men working as labourers in an apple orchard back in July this year. The three young workers from the frontier district of Rajouri disappeared shortly after arriving in Shopian to make a living.
The Army said an inquiry conducted by it showed that the killings were carried out by its troops during an ‘operation’.
It said “disciplinary action” was being initiated under the Army Act against the officers and soldiers involved in the operation.
The inquiry “brought out certain prima facie evidence indicating that during the operation powers vested under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1990 were exceeded and the Do’s and Don’ts of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court have been contravened,” the Army said.
It, however, added that the slain men’s “involvement with terrorism or related activities is under investigation by the J&K police.”
