CPI-M shocked over Kashmir civilian killings

NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday urged the central government to take legal action against the army unit allegedly involved in the killing of three Kashmiri men in a staged shootout and passing them off as militants to claim monetary rewards.

“The CPI-M expresses its grave concern on the shocking incident of the killing of three Kashmiri youth by an army unit in Jammu and Kashmir in an alleged encounter,” a CPI-M statement said.

Expressing condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased, the statement demanded that “appropriate legal action should be taken against all the perpetrators who were involved in this serious crime and violation of human rights”.

“The government of India should take all necessary steps to stop the recurrence of such incidents,” the statement said.

An Indian Army major and four other people, including a Territorial Army soldier, were booked for the murder of the three civilians April 30, police said Saturday.