SC to hear plea to quash FIR against Army on Monday
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the plea filed by the father of Major Aditya Kumar, named in an FIR by Jammu and Kashmir Police in civilian killings during a firing incident, for quashing the case because it will hurt the Army's morale in fighting terrorism in the state.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra posted the matter for hearing on February 12, after petitioner's advocate Aishwarya Bhati sought urgent hearing of the case.
Major Kumar and other soldiers of 10 Garhwal Rifles have been accused of opening fire and fatally injuring three civilians when a stone-pelting mob attacked an army convoy near Ganowpora village in Shopian district on January 27.
The FIR would hurt the morale of Army personnel in discharging the duty, Lt Col Karamveer Singh said in his plea filed on Thursday through advocate Aishwarya Bhati.
"The manner in which the lodging of the FIR has been portrayed and projected by the political leadership and administrative higher-ups of the state, reflects the extremely hostile atmosphere in the state.
It said that Major Kumar was wrongly and arbitrarily named as the incident relates to an Army convoy on bonafide military duty in an area under the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Acts), which was isolated by an "unruly and deranged" stone-pelting mob.
The intention of the Major was to save Army personnel and property, and the fire was inflicted only to impair and provide a safe escape.
"The unruly mob was requested to disperse and not to obstruct military persons in the performance of their duties and not to damage government property...
"The unruly behavior of the unlawful assembly reached its peak when they got hold of a Junior Commissioned Officer and was in the process of lynching him to death. It was at this moment that warning shots were fired... which as per the said terms of engagement is the last resort to be taken...," the plea said.
It also sought directions to issue guidelines to protect rights of soldiers and adequate compensation.
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Kejriwal arrives in Goa on 3-day visit; to oversee planning for 2027 polls
Panaji (PTI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Goa on Wednesday on a three-day visit during which he will hold discussions on strategic planning and organisational strengthening ahead of the 2027 assembly elections in the coastal state.
The former Delhi CM landed at the Dabolim Airport in South Goa where he was received by local leaders, including party's state unit president Valmiki Naik.
"The visit marks strategic planning and organisational strengthening ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections," said an AAP statement.
The party said Kejriwal will be at Shree Swami Samarth Pariwar Math in Siolim in North Goa on Thursday. He will also inaugurate a new 'Aamche Arogya Night Clinic' (health clinic) at Velim in South Goa.
The AAP said the convenor's visit reflects the party's growing focus on Goa and its commitment to expand the organisation at grassroots level in the BJP-ruled state, where polls are due in the first half of next year.
