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India to probe Army officer's death who knew about fake encounters

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Srinagar,India, Sept 8, IRNA -- Four years after the mysterious death of a decorated army officer, who had allegedly committed suicide during his posting in Kashmir in 2006, the Indian ministry of defence accepted the request from deceased captain’s family to inquire into the matter.

The move came after Captain Sumit Kohli’s mother raised doubts about the Army's report that he committed suicide. The Army had claimed 26 year old 'Shaurya Chakra' awardee Captain Sumit committed suicide due to domestic problems while the officer's family blamed the Army behind his death.

Captain Kohli's mother Veena Kohli had been demanding a probe independent of the Army or by the Central Bureau of Investigation, saying she had no faith in the Army.

Kohli, was serving with elite counter insurgency force 16 Rashtriya Rifles in Lolab valley in North Kashmir. His body was found in his camp, on April 30 2006, the last day of his posting in Kashmir.

Four months before that, on the Indian Republic Day, he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the country's third highest gallantry award, for a conspicuous act of gallantry in the line of duty.

Army authorities claimed that he had committed suicide by killing himself with his service AK-47. On receiving the news of his son's demise, Sumit's father suffered a stroke. He died a day after the officer's cremation. The Kohli family has alleged that he was murdered because he was about to reveal the names of officers who were believed to be behind the killing of four Kashmiri civilians in a fake encounter in Lolab in April 2004.

According to Ms kohli, being a witness to the gory act, the young officer had vowed not only to “expose” the murderers but also ensure they were punished for taking the lives of innocent people in anticipation of rewards.

Veena had met Defence Minister AK Antony on Aug 28 and demanded that her son's death to be re-investigated. Veena, in her representation to Antony, had said that Sumit was a brave officer and could never have committed suicide. Veena, who has been fighting for re-investigation of the cause of the death of her only son for over four years said she was satisfied with the minister's response.

'My son was murdered and if the Army inquiry did not yield any results within a reasonable time, I would knock on the doors of the judiciary for an independent probe from CBI,' she said.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 264635