The accused allegedly lured villagers to the border area in Keran sector on November 17
A man from the Territorial Army has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the disappearance of three villagers in Kupwara. The families of the men say they suspect the men have been killed in a fake encounter.
Manzoor Ahmad Khawja, a rifleman working with 160 Territorial Army battalion, had allegedly lured the three men to a border area with the promise of jobs in the army.
He was arrested following a court order.
In their complaint to the police, the families of Ghulam Jeelani, Mir Hussain and Ali Mohmmad have said Manzoor Ahmad Khawja had taken the three men to Keran sector on November 17. Since then, the men had been missing, the families claim.
The families alleged the men could have been killed in a fake encounter like the Machil fake encounter of 2010.
The army has, however, denied any case fake encounter. In a statement, the army said the case of alleged abduction is sub judice and they will extend full cooperation into the investigations by police.
Police say they are investigating the case and accused was produced before the court for police remand.
In 2010, a Territorial Army volunteer and an army informer had lured three villagers with a promise of job in the army and later killed them in a fake encounter at Machchil near the Line of Control. The army initially claimed the men were Pakistani terrorists and with their death, a major infiltration bid was eliminated.
But after investigations and exhumation of bodies, the police claimed the deceased were innocent civilians.
Last year, an army court awarded life sentences to six soldiers -- including a commanding officer -- for staging the fake encounter.