Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 6
Almost 13 months after the killing of two youths at Chattergam in Budgam, Army men will depose before the police for recording their statements for the first time.
The police have been blaming the Army for the delay in filing a challan in the case in the competent court, alleging that the Army had not been cooperating with their investigation.
Two youths — Faisal Yousuf (17) and Meraj-u-din Dar (21) — were killed and two others injured on November 3 when Army men of the 53 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, manning a checkpoint at Chattergam village in Budgam, opened fire on the car they were travelling in.
The killing sparked outrage across the Valley and the Army later termed the killing as “a mistake”. The state police had already recorded the statements of the two injured boys and other civilian eyewitnesses during the investigation into the case.
“The investigating officer forwarded nearly a dozen communications to the Army unit in the last one year, asking it to record the statements of men deployed at the naka, but it had not responded so far. This is the precise reason for not being able to complete our investigation,” said a senior police officer.
The Army was yet to deposit the weapons for forensic examination, which it had not done so far, the officer said. The Army authorities said deposition of witnesses in the case would commence from Monday.
“The Army has been extending full cooperation to the civil administration and the Jammu and Kashmir Police with respect to the Chattergam incident. Senior Army officers are maintaining constant liaison with the Budgam Senior Superintendent of Police. Deposition by witnesses is scheduled to commence tomorrow,” said a senior Army officer in Srinagar.
The Army had completed a court of inquiry into the case and was waiting for the police and magisterial probe to move ahead in the case.
Sources said the court of inquiry had indicted nearly a dozen soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer of the 53 Rashtriya Rifles, for violating rules of engagement in Chattergam.

Probe update

• Police investigation status: The police had registered a case under Section 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code and Sections 7 and 27 of the Arms Act against the 53 Rashtriya Rifles. They are yet to file a challan in the case. The Army has not shared its court of inquiry with the police
• Army investigation status: The Army has completed its court of inquiry. It will move further in the case once the magisterial inquiry and police investigation into the case are complete. On the court of inquiry not being shared, the Army says the police are required to conduct an independent inquiry without reference to any departmental inquiry
• Magisterial probe status: The Jammu and Kashmir Government had named the Khan Sahib SDM as the inquiry officer. The official is yet to complete the probe