Disciplinary action likely in civilian deaths
Condition of all 10 injured people stable in hospitals
Army chief arrives today, will visit site of encounter
JAMMU, Dec : To assuage hurt feelings of the civilians following death of three persons, the Army today shifted a Brigadier level and three other officers whose unit is looking after operations in Surankote and is mulling disciplinary action after thorough internal investigations while police have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in the matter.
Officials confirmed that Brigadier Padam Acharya, Brigade Commander of the Rashtriya Rifles, has been removed from the unit along with three other senior Army officers following death of three civilians and injuries to about 10 others.
However, no official information was shared by the Army.
Officials, however, clarified that condition of all other 10 injured civilians—five each of whom were admitted in Surankote and Poonch hospitals—is stable. The doctors are attending upon the injured civilians regularly and they are responding to the treatment, they said.
Police have lodged an FIR into the civilian deaths at the local police station for further investigations.
Officials said a particular community which had always been in forefront in anti-militancy operations by fully cooperating with Army, paramilitary forces and police, is feeling badly hurt following death of three civilians and injuries to 10 others. The community always took lead in helping security forces even when militancy was at its peak, they pointed out.
The Army has also ordered a thorough internal investigation into the deaths of three civilians following allegations that they died in its custody.