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{{distinguish|text=the [[2009 Shopian rape and murder case]]}} | {{distinguish|text=the [[2009 Shopian rape and murder case]]}} | ||
The '''2020 Amshipora murders''', or the '''Amshipora fake encounter''', or the '''Shopian fake encounter''', refers to the killing of three Kashmiri laborers, one of whom was a minor, by Indian military personnel of the [[Rashtriya Rifles]] in the village of [[Amshipora]], in the district of [[Shopian]], in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], on 18 July 2020. The [[Indian Army]] initially claimed that the three victims were foreign terrorists who had been killed in an encounter with security forces after they opened fire on a security team. Preliminary investigations by the Indian Army in a Court of Inquiry, as well as by the [[Jammu and Kashmir Police]], alleged that Army personnel, aided by civilian informants, had staged the encounter and killed three labourers who were working for daily wages in local orchards, allegedly to claim a cash bounty of {{INRConvert|20|l|lk=|year= | The '''2020 Amshipora murders''', or the '''Amshipora fake encounter''', or the '''Shopian fake encounter''', refers to the killing of three Kashmiri laborers, one of whom was a minor, by Indian military personnel of the [[Rashtriya Rifles]] in the village of [[Amshipora]], in the district of [[Shopian]], in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], on 18 July 2020. The [[Indian Army]] initially claimed that the three victims were foreign terrorists who had been killed in an encounter with security forces after they opened fire on a security team. Preliminary investigations by the Indian Army in a Court of Inquiry, as well as by the [[Jammu and Kashmir Police]], alleged that Army personnel, aided by civilian informants, had staged the encounter and killed three labourers who were working for daily wages in local orchards, allegedly to claim a cash bounty of {{INRConvert|20|l|lk=|year=2020}}, which is granted by the Indian Army as a reward for killing militants. The Indian Army is currently conducting a court-martial proceeding against Army Captain Bhoopendra Singh of the Rashtriya Rifles, as well as a unnamed non-commissioned officer, while proceedings are ongoing against two civilian informants in local courts in Kashmir.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|date=2020-12-30|title=Shopian encounter: Army set to take over proceedings against Capt from civilian court|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shopian-encounter-army-set-to-take-over-proceedings-against-capt-from-civilian-court-7125519/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> | ||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
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In October 2020, the Lieutenant-Governor of Kashmir assured the families of the three victims that they would receive justice.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 8, 2020|title=Shopian encounter: J&K LG meets families of 3 youths, assures them of ‘justice’ |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shopian-encounter-jk-lg-meets-families-of-3-youths-assures-them-of-justice/articleshow/78561132.cms|access-date=2021-07-25|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> | In October 2020, the Lieutenant-Governor of Kashmir assured the families of the three victims that they would receive justice.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 8, 2020|title=Shopian encounter: J&K LG meets families of 3 youths, assures them of ‘justice’ |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shopian-encounter-jk-lg-meets-families-of-3-youths-assures-them-of-justice/articleshow/78561132.cms|access-date=2021-07-25|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> | ||
On 28 December 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir Police filed a charge sheet in their investigation, in a Shopian court. They claimed that Army Captain Bhoopendra Singh of the 62 [[Rashtriya Rifles]], along with two civilian informants, had intentionally planned and organised to murder the three victims, in a staged encounter, and had later concealed the identities of the victims, planted weapons on them, and then alleged that they were terrorists. They claimed that Singh used an alias, Major Basheer Khan, during the conspiracy. They further claimed that he had been assisted in this by two civilian informants. The charge sheet states that the motivation for the staging the encounter and planting evidence was to claim a cash bounty of bounty of {{INRConvert|20|l|lk=|year= | On 28 December 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir Police filed a charge sheet in their investigation, in a Shopian court. They claimed that Army Captain Bhoopendra Singh of the 62 [[Rashtriya Rifles]], along with two civilian informants, had intentionally planned and organised to murder the three victims, in a staged encounter, and had later concealed the identities of the victims, planted weapons on them, and then alleged that they were terrorists. They claimed that Singh used an alias, Major Basheer Khan, during the conspiracy. They further claimed that he had been assisted in this by two civilian informants. The charge sheet states that the motivation for the staging the encounter and planting evidence was to claim a cash bounty of bounty of {{INRConvert|20|l|lk=|year=2020}}, which is granted by the Indian Army as a reward for killing militants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Police name Army Captain, two locals for killing 3 in fake encounter|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/dec/28/police-name-army-captain-two-locals-for-killing-3-in-fake-encounter-2242042.html|access-date=2020-12-28|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite news|last=Ashiq|first=Peerzada|date=2020-12-27|title=Three, including Army captain, chargesheeted in Shopian 'fake encounter' in July|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/three-including-army-captain-chargesheeted-in-shopian-fake-encounter-in-july/article33427265.ece|access-date=2020-12-28|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Army Officer Among 3 Named In J&K Police Chargesheet In Shopian Encounter|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/army-officer-among-3-named-in-j-k-police-chargesheet-in-alleged-fake-shopian-encounter-2344220|access-date=2020-12-28|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> The chargesheet further alleges that Captain Singh conspired with two local informants to abduct the three victims from their lodgings, took them to the shed where the alleged encounter occurred, and murdered them in order to claim the bounty. The police have accordingly charged the officers and civilians involved with murder, abduction, destruction of evidence and providing false information, criminal conspiracy, and possession of prohibited weapons.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ali|first=Jehangir|date=2020-12-29|title=Shopian Fake Encounter: Cops Name BJP Candidate's Son, Army Captn|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/shopian-fake-encounter-case-charge-sheet-names-army-captain-bjp-candidate-son|access-date=2021-01-11|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> | ||
The investigation is still ongoing, but Kashmir police have stated that they have not been able to interview two senior officers involved in the incident, Major Kush and Major Amit Kumar Rai, both of whom have since been transferred.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zargar|first=Safwat|title=One year after three young workers killed in Kashmir fake encounter, police probe filled with holes|url=https://scroll.in/article/1000841/one-year-after-three-young-workers-killed-in-kashmir-fake-encounter-police-probe-filled-with-holes|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref> | The investigation is still ongoing, but Kashmir police have stated that they have not been able to interview two senior officers involved in the incident, Major Kush and Major Amit Kumar Rai, both of whom have since been transferred.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zargar|first=Safwat|title=One year after three young workers killed in Kashmir fake encounter, police probe filled with holes|url=https://scroll.in/article/1000841/one-year-after-three-young-workers-killed-in-kashmir-fake-encounter-police-probe-filled-with-holes|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref> | ||