Army rejects shifting of court martial proceedings to Kashmir

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 9/22/2012 12:57:12 AM

Pathribal fake encounter case

SRINAGAR, Sep 21: Army today rejected a demand to shift the court martial proceedings in Pathribal fake encounter case from Nagrota to Kashmir.
The demand was made by the families of victims. Besides shifting the proceedings, the family had also demanded a transparent trial in presence of print and electronic media.
Army started the court martial proceedings into the case at Nagrota yesterday and had also summoned the family members of the deceased. But they did not appear, demanding the shifting of the trail to Valley.
A defence spokesman issued a statement in this connection today and rejected the demand of the families of victims. He said,” Regarding the aspect of change of location of the court martial proceedings, the GOC 15 Corps had contested the case on behalf of the accused persons right upto the Hon’ble Supreme Court and therefore, it was just and proper as also fair to the victims’ families that the disciplinary proceedings be conducted by another commander.”
Giving details, he said, army yesterday initiated disciplinary proceedings against the “accused army officers in the alleged Pathribal fake encounter case.”
“Consequent to the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order, the Army had taken over the case from Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar and thereafter attached these officers to its Nagrota based 16 Corps. Yesterday, Lt Gen AS Nandal, GOC 16 Corps in the capacity of Commanding Officer heard the charges preferred by the CBI against these officers and directed summary of evidence to be recorded against them. During this hearing, Lt Gen AS Nandal heard the evidence led by Ashok Kalra, the CBI Inspector who had investigated the case. He also produced the ‘challan’ which had been filed by the CBI before the CBI Court,” the defence spokesman said.
He did not mention anything regarding the family members of victims not appearing before the army court. The spokesman, however, added that all witnesses examined by the CBI during its investigation will now be summoned to appear before the officer recording summary of evidence. After the summary of evidence is recorded, the final charge-sheet will be prepared for the next stage of proceedings, he stated.

 

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