Machil fake encounter case is an election stunt, says Geelani

Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani termed the Army court martial move to hand life sentence to seven soldiers in the Machil fake encounter case as an election stunt.

“It is an election stunt. BJP government in Delhi wants to appease voters in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said adding “There are hundreds of Machil like cases and giving punishment to those involved in one case won’t do justice with Kashmiris.” The octogenarian separatist leader also said, “Justice with Kashmiris will be when India concedes their right to self determination and ends its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and his faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, however, said, “Though it is a welcome step, it shouldn’t be (used as) an election stunt. There are bigger massacres which have happened in Kashmir and justice should be delivered in those cases too.” He also said, “Let New Delhi revoke draconian laws particularly AFSPA under the garb of which Indian Army is killing innocents in Kashmir”.

The Mirwaiz said since the Army has taken a decision in one fake encounter case it is to be seen if this verdict is made transparent too by letting people know whether the convicted soldiers have really been punished or not.