Statements of victims’ kin to be taken in Valley itself

After the family members of five victims of the Pathribal fake encounter case declined to visit Nagrota in Jammu to record their statements,the Army has now decided to record their statements at south Kashmir’s Awantipore Army camp.

A defence spokesman said the officer recording summary of evidence in the case has been directed to move to Awantipore to record the statements of the witnesses. “The decision has been taken to ensure free and fair trial in the Pathribal case. The Army has taken upon itself to facilitate recording of statements of the witnesses including the kith and kin of the deceased,who had earlier expressed inability to travel outside Kashmir,” he said.

In September last year,Army began the court martial proceeding and summoned the families of five civilians killed in the encounter to 16 Corps Headquarters,Nagrota. However,the family members refused to travel to Jammu citing various reasons.

The Army spokesman said that so far statements of 26 witnesses,including all the Army witnesses and some police as well as government officials,have been recorded.