Guwahati, October 15: An Army court martial on Saturday awarded life sentence to a fromer major general, two colonels and four soldiers in connection with a 24-year-old fake encounter case in Assam. Higher competent authorities such as the Eastern Army Command in Kolkata and the Army headquarters in New Delhi are yet to confirm the judgment.

The Summary General Court Martial (SGCM) of the Indian Army sentenced Major General AK Lal, Colonel Thomas Mathew, Colonel RS Sibiren, Captain Dilip Singh, Captain Jagdeo Singh, Naik Albindar Singh and Naik Shivendar Singh to life imprisonment for their involvement in a fake encounter case in Assam's Tinsukia district dating back to 1994. Chinese Soldiers Cross Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Sector, Sent Back by Indian Army.

The Armymen had picked nine youths from different areas of Tinsukia district on February 18, 1994 on suspicion that they were involved in the killing of a top tea garden executive. They killed five of the youths in a fake encounter, branding them as ULFA militants a few days after the incident, while releasing the other four.

Former Assam Minister and BJP leader Jagadish Bhuyan had filed a Habeas Corpus petition in the Gauhati High Court on February 22 the same year, seeking the whereabouts of the youths. The High court asked the Indian Army to produce the nine AASU (All Assam Students Union) leaders at the nearest police station. The Army produced five bodies at the Dholla Police Station.

The court martial process began on July 16 this year and concluded on July 27. The quantum of punishment was pronounced on Saturday, sources in the Indian Army told IANS on Sunday. Bhuyan expressed happiness over the verdict. "I strongly believe in our judicial system, democracy and discipline and neutrality of the Indian Army," Bhuyan was quoted as saying.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2018 12:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).