Poonch fake encounter: Army Chief reviews security

Chief of Army staff (COAS) Gen VK Singh today visited Poonch and reviewed the security situation in the backdrop of the fake encounter in Surankote belt of the district on August 8.

Gen Singh visited Poonch and Rajouri districts and took stock of the security situation and measures along the Line of Control (LoC), a senior Army official of 16 Corps said.

Singh, who arrived in Jammu this morning at 9.30am from New Delhi on a two-day visit, was received by the Northern Command Chief Lt Gen S Parnaik and 16 Crops Commander Lt Gen JP Nehra at Nagrota Corps headquarters.

After a brief review at the commanders' meet, he flew to the border belts of Poonch and Rajouri districts along with commanders, he said.

The visit of the Army Chief to Poonch becomes significant in view of the 'fake' encounter in Surankote belt of Poonch district on August 8 and subsequent direction from Defence Minister AK Antony to the Army to submit a detailed report to him on the incident.

The issue of encounter is expected to have come up for discussion at the field commanders' meet at Poonch border belt. "It might have been discussed. But the visit was planned a month ago," official said.

In a major embarrassment to the security establishment in J&K, Police arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) Noor Hussain and Abdul Majeed-Jawan of 156 Battalion of Territorial Army for conspiracy to engineer a 'fake' encounter and murder of civilian in the name of top Lashker-e-Taiba Divisional Commander Abu Usmaan in Poonch on August 8.