SRINAGAR: Welcoming the life sentence recommended for an Army captain for a “staged” encounter in Amshipura area, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday hoped for fair and impartial probe in the Lawaypora and Hyderpora encounters as well.

An Army court has recommended life imprisonment for Captain Bhoopendra Singh for the staged encounter in July 2020, in which three labourers from Rajouri district were killed in the Amshipura area of Shopian district.

“Recommended punishment of life imprisonment for Captain involved in Amshipora fake encounter is a welcome step towards creating accountability in such cases,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

“Hope an impartial probe is also ordered in Lawapora & Hyderpora encounters to prevent repetition of such ghastly incidents,” said the former chief minister. Both these encounters took place in the year 2021.

Captain Singh faced court martial after the Army Court of Inquiry concluded that the troops had “exceeded” powers vested under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), however, his sentence is subject to confirmation by higher Army authorities.