The Centre approached the Supreme Court on Friday to quash the FIR against Army Major Aditya Kumar, who is accused by the Jammu and Kahsmir Police of having led an Army convoy that fired at a mob of stone pelters at Shopian leading to death of three civilians.
The Centre’s plea has come despite the order by the apex court on Monday stalling further investigation into the case. Although J&K Police had informed the Court that Major Aditya Kumar has not been named as an accused in the FIR, the Centre took the precaution as the contents of the FIR name him as the officer who ordered the firing on the mob at the incident on January 27, 2018.
The Centre’s move is also inspired by the observation made by the apex bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that was not keen to go by the assurance offered by the J&K Police. Going through the contents of the FIR, CJI remarked, “The FIR states that firing took place under his (Kumar) command. This means he can be roped in at any point of time.” The order came on a petition filed by Major Kumar’s father, serving lieutenant Colonel Karamveer Singh. His lawyer Aishwarya Bhati confirmed that the Centre had filed the fresh plea in support of the officer.