Lashkar commander’ killed in Occupied Kashmir a civilian, two Indian security men arrested

Srinagar, August 08, 2011 (PPI): Indian Army sources Monday said the “terrorist” killed by security forces in a encounter in Poonch, Occupied Kashmir a couple of days ago was “actually an innocent civilian and a victim of misinformation and foul play,” Indian TNN news agency reported on Monday.

Indian security forces had earlier claimed that they eliminated Abu Usman alias Abu Adnan alias Doctor, a self styled foreign based area commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, in a gun battle in Hari forest of Surankote of Poonch district of Held Kashmir.

TNN quoting Indian Army sources in Poonch said slain person has now been identified as Ashok Kumar, son of Chet Ram of Reasi. “An autopsy revealed that person killed in the encounter on intervening night of August 5th & 6th was not a ‘militant’ but a ‘civilian’,” Army sources said.

An officer with 16 Corps of Northern Command said, “There seems to be some foul play as false inputs were provided to security forces about militants following which a trap was laid on Saturday night and one person was killed Sunday morning.” He said slain man was a non-Muslim.

Occupied Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said two security men have been arrested in connection with killing of a civilian in alleged fake encounter in Poonch. “A special police officer and a local Territorial Army man were arrested in connection with killing of a civilian in Poonch district,” he said. He said a case under section 302 (RPC) amounting to murder was registered against arrested duo.