J-K MLA placed under house arrest for defying prohibitory orders

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), June 7 (ANI): Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid was placed under house arrest ahead of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit here on Monday, when he along with his supporters defied prohibitory orders and tried to stage a demonstration to protest the killings of three youths in Machali fake encounter.

The police detained Rashid along with his 150 supporters, while they were trying to protest against human rights violations.

Rashid held army responsible for the fake encounter, which took place on April 30.

The police have arrested Abbas Shah, the trooper of 161 battalion of the Territorial Army posted at Gantamulla-Baramulla in the case.

An Army Major named in the alleged fake encounter case has been suspended on Sunday.

Another Army Colonel has also been removed from the command.

The action came after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met senior officials of the Army and the police at a high level meeting held on June 6.

The meeting was attended by senior commanders of the Army, state police chief and intelligence officials.

Commenting on the issue, Abdullah said, "There is a need for transparency. Army is judge, jury and hangman."

Earlier, Abdullah had rubbished all reports that the State Government tried to hush up the matter.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police had filed a case of abduction and murder against a few security personnel for an encounter in which three people were killed on April 30.

Security forces had claimed that they had killed three infiltrators and recovered five AK47 rifles, ammunition and Pakistani currency from them in the Machali sector.

According to reports, the Jammu and Kashmir Police found that the men killed by the security forces were actually innocent civilians, who were reported missing from a village in Baramulla District. (ANI)