Machil encounter: Life sentence executable after confirmation

The Indian Army said on Saturday that the life sentence awarded to another soldier after a court martial in the Machil fake encounter case will be executable only after it is confirmed by the GOC-n-C northern command.

"The life sentence awarded by general court martial will only become executable once the same is confirmed by GOC-n-C northern command...," a senior army officer told IANS here.

"The file has been sent for confirmation to the army commander. Once it is approved, it will be implemented," the officer said.

On Friday, Abas Hussain Shah, a soldier with the territorial army, was awarded life sentence for his involvement in the Machil fake encounter case of 2010.

Six army personnel including a colonel, a major and four soldiers have already been awarded life sentences after court martial proceedings in the Machil fake encounter that rocked the Kashmir Valley following massive public outrage.

Three youths belonging to Naidihal village of Baramulla district were lured with promises of jobs with the army in 2010 and were taken to Machil sector along the Line of Control in Kupwara district where they were killed.

The army officers later claimed that the three youths were militants who tried to infiltrate into the valley on April 30, 2010 and were killed during a shootout.

It later allegedly turned out to be an encounter staged for medals and rewards by the army personnel. Weapons were kept with the youths' bodies to prove that they were militants.

The three youths were identified by their families after reports were published with their pictures.

The victims were identified as Riyaz Ahmad Lone, Muhammad Shafi Lone and Shahzad Ahmad Khane.