Embarrassment for Indian Army and Police - Man killed in Poonch encounter not a Militant

Jammu:  In what could be a major embarrassment for the police and Army, it now turns out that one of the so-called 'Lashkar militants' killed in an encounter less than 24 hours ago, was not really a militant but a civilian resident of Poonch.

Army sources now say that their whole operation was based on an input from two men - one from the Special Operation Group of the police and the other from the Army with some 'malafide' intention. Based on their information, the Army launched the operation and killed him.

Both the men have been arrested, but the questions that now arise are how did this encounter continue for close to 12 hours? And what about the weapon that Army claimed to have found on him?

Independent inquires have been ordered by the police and the Army into the incident.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has, meanwhile, strongly condemned the killing of the civilian saying the guilty should be arrested. He also said that the Army and the police were misled.

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