CPI(M) condemns fake encounters in J

New Delhi, Feb 3 (UNI) Condemning the fake encounters by the police and the Army in Jammu and Kashmir, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today said branding innocent people as terrorists and killing them under this pretext was '' shocking''.

Five cases of such killings, so far, had come to light, the party in a stataement issued here said. The killings, motivated by greed for reward and promotions, shows the degeneration which has set in a section of the forces of law and order, the party noted.

CPI(M), while conveying its sympathy to the families of the victims, said the party was of the view that the people of the Kashmir valley had every reason to feel outraged.

''Every single officer and personnel of the police and the Army responsible for these atrocities must be arrested and tried for murder and abetment of murder, the statement said.

The Army units involved in the fake encounters must be withdrawn, the statement added.

UNI