The Army announced Sunday it had relieved a colonel of his command and suspended a major for their alleged involvement in the recent staged encounter in the Machael sector, near the Line of Control, in which three Kashmiri youths lured there with the promise of jobs were shot dead.
This comes a day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh begins a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Major Upinder of 4 Rajput Regiment is the main accused in the April 30 incident, latest in a series of alleged human rights violations which have severely embarrassed both the Army and the government. He has been removed from active duty, while the commanding officer of 4 Rajput Regiment, Col. Pathania, has been relieved of his command. The GoC-in-C of Northern Command, Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal, said in Srinagar: “The colonel has been removed from command. The second officer has been suspended as of now, and an inquiry has been ordered.” He said the inquiry now under way will be “totally transparent, and the truth will be there.”
Army sources said Col. Pathania, who was due to leave Kashmir soon and join his regiment in Meerut, has been directed not to leave the Valley till the inquiry is over. Maj. Upinder is likely to be made available to the police in a few days for questioning.