The Informative Missive
Published by
 PUBLIC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Dec 2003

Editorial:   Need Of The Hour

    Though economical globalisation has been criticised in many developing countries, even the civil society groups in the developed countries are critical of globalisation of the humanity without responsibilities. But one of the benefits of globalisation no doubt is the globalisation of humanity and human rights. How a country treats its citizen is now a matter of concern for the international community. Besides external concerns there are internal concerns in the democratic countries, like in India, there are conscientious objectors, who are genuinely concerned about the human rights violations in conflict torn Kashmir. Nevertheless, they have their own reservations about the issues like right of self-determination.

    Volcanoes can send tremors around the world and darkness in the skies, but the main victims are those who live on their flanks. The global civil society groups can be supportive to the oppressed people, but their struggle for justice is to be carried by the people themselves. They have to evolve proper strategies for that as they are a part of the problem and part of the solution.

    Through our experience, we believe that exposure of human rights is a deterrent for minimising the human rights violations. For exposure we have to record every event. Without proper documentation the events become non-events and with the passage of time it fades in the memory, helping the perpetrators and the governments to claim that there are only ‘aberrations’ and not a systematic and organised state terrorism in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. We have to expose the farcical state institutions, for “protecting human rights”. Since the conflict started in Jammu and Kashmir, we lack the proper documentation, which needs to be done in scientific, professional manner and in accordance with the international standards. How many massacres have taken place, how many enforced disappearances are there, number of custodial deaths, forms of torture, the psychiatric disorders (there is phenomenal increase in psychiatric morbidity in general and depressive disorders in particular), drop outs from schools, rapes and molestations, forced labour and other forms of human rights violations. We have no accounts. There have been some studies by the social scientists in some restricted spheres convenient to the government for academic purposes and supported by the international funding agencies. Politicians and civil society groups inter se are giving contradictory numbers enough to discredit them before the concerned visiting diplomats, journalists, and human rights watchers. Hitherto, enough of emotions, anger and rhetoric have been displayed, but even if after 14 years of conflict we are unable to do what is needed, it would be enough to say, pity the nation. Even after 14 years of the miseries and hardship we have failed to establish a credible human rights institution, which people in other conflicting areas undergoing more suppression and oppression have succeeded by their dedication, commitment and will. If there is no space we have to create the space and if little space is available that space has to be widened. A strategy is to be evolved for accomplishing the objectives. Though in far flung areas, where army is ruling the roast, fear is still used as a weapon of war and the inhabitants are suffering from strangulated voice syndrome, a networking is possible as there are lot of people willing to disseminate information clandestinely on voluntary basis as they realise that silence is no safety for them, and it makes them more vulnerable to the state terrorism. Without compilation of the data we will not empower international human rights organisations concern about the human rights violation in Kashmir.

    The PCHR has decided to publish an annual issue comprising documentation of the human rights situation of the year 2003, though it should have been done earlier but better late than never. It would be an endeavour to document the human rights violations on annual basis and also for strengthening the institution, as we believe that institutions only can protect the human rights and even after resolving the Kashmir imbroglio only such institutions can protect the human rights. We can’t trust politicians, for them human rights violation is an issue only when they are in opposition. History is witness to the fact that even nations who got independence have seldom gained freedom without such institutions.

BEMINA KILLINGS: WITNESSES SILENCED

Dec 14: Two civilians were killed and another critically injured when personnel of Border Security Forces (B.S.F) fired indiscriminately on civilians at Bemina. The deceased were later identified as Sartaj Ahmad, 25, son of Ghulam Nabi Handoo a paramedic by profession and Ghulam Nabi Pakhtoon, 29, an auto driver by profession.
   
    According to eyewitnesses, at around 10:30 a.m., a B.S.F vehicle while chasing a scooterist opened indiscriminate fire near SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Srinagar resulting in the death of two civilians. Giving details, the locals said that a posse of B.S.F men after beating a scooterist mercilessly with rifles butts shot him in his leg. Unnerved by the presence of civilians being witness to their brutality, the B.S.F men opened the barrel of their guns killing two civilians, which included an auto rickshaw driver and a paramedic. However, no information was known about the fate of the scooterist who was injured in the firing of army personnel. The firing locals said, continued for about 5 minutes.

A team of The Informative Missive visited both the families.
    Twenty six year old Nasreena, widow of Ghulam Nabi is mourning her husband’s loss. Living in a wooden shack, the signs of abject poverty are visible everywhere. Nasreena has two daughters Kulsum, 4, and Ulfat, 2. Both of them are too young to understand that they have been orphaned and were playing in a world of their own. Nasreena says, “They killed an innocent. What have they gained by killing my husband? It was only five years back that my parents married me off to Ghulam Nabi. We still looked like newly wed couple, we were so happy with each other. On that fateful day, my husband after having his breakfast at around 8:30 a.m., left home. Before leaving, he insisted me to take care of the children, as it was very cold outside. It was around 10:30 a.m. when I was serving breakfast to my daughters and suddenly there were some gunshots. I was scared and hugged my children tightly. Again after few seconds there were more gunshots and I saw people were running towards the medical college auto stand. Somebody told me that the firing occurred near the auto-stand. I rushed towards the stand. But security forces were not permitting the people to assemble and police used tear smoke shells to disperse them. Finally, I came to know that my husband had received bullets and a boy of our area took him in his arms to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. Doctors said, he died of blood loss and would have been saved if brought only five minutes before. As soon as I heard I was widowed, I felt unconscious.

    The death of my husband is the death of the entire family. What will happen to my daughters? What will I tell them when they will ask about their father? They are too young to understand what orphanage is. I will never marry again. I know my responsibilities. Money or job will never substitute my husband’s loss. But at least give us some support to survive. I don’t know whether I will get it or not, but I need it badly.”
Sundree, mother of Nasreena visibly perturbed by the death of his son-in-law says that security forces have destroyed the life of her daughter, “They have not killed my son-in-law; they have killed my daughter and her children too”.

    Four hundred yards away from Ghulam Nabi’s residence, another house is in mourning. Sartaj’s mother Shafiqa while speaking to The Informative Missive wails, “The heart of mother is bleeding. The security forces killed him by one bullet but pumped thousands of bullets in his mother’s heart” says Shafiqa, as she cleans the photograph of his lost son.

    Giving details Shafiqa adds, “It was around 8:30 a.m. when he left for his shop but after five minutes I saw him again (from his back), he had forgotten the keys of his shop. After collecting the keys he left for the shop. I was about to do the routine household chores when suddenly at around 10:35 a.m. I heard gunshots. I was worried as both my sons were out. My daughter insisted me not to go out, as there was trouble outside. But after half an hour one of our neighbourers told me that the firing took place near the shop of Sartaj. I failed to control myself and rushed towards the spot, where I found huge gathering of people chanting slogans. Police and security forces were trying to disperse them. I enquired from a boy about Sartaj, who told me that he fled his shop right after the gunshots were fired. I came back to the home relieved with the fact that my son is safe. It was around 2:00 p.m. I sent my younger son Samiullah to the shop to see his brother. On reaching the shop he saw the shutter was down without locks. To see whether electricity had been switched off, he opened the shop and found his brother lying in a pool of blood. As soon as I learnt about Sartaj’s death the whole world collapsed in front of me. I know that I will never get back my son back but now I fear about the safety of my other son. I know the pain and agony, I know how hard it is for me to live without Sartaj but I have to live. I want the perpetrators to be punished”.

    “Sartaj was a promising youth and he always dreamt of reaching greater heights in life. He was our hope,” said Sartaj’s father Ghulam Nabi Handoo in a painful voice. “I want perpetrators should not go free as they killed an innocent. How hard and painful it is for a father to shoulder the coffin of his young son who was about to get married”, he adds.

    Sartaj’s sister Nimrah with tears incessantly flowing from her eyes recounts, “Our parents worked hard to give us a good life. We could have never imagined that we will loose Sartaj in this manner. I want the killers should not go free. I want to fight for the justice but fear dire consequences, as the killers are only few meters away from our house.”

    Recalling her past she added, “We were living in down town area. Seven years back we left the area, as it was very crowded and protest demonstrations were the order of the day there. My father to secure our future brought us here and established a shop for Sartaj to prevent him from bad company. Little did we know that one day this shop would be his deathbed. Sometimes back he had applied for a job and his name was in waiting list but when his job was confirmed he was no more”.

    “I found Sartaj lying on the floor in a pool of blood as the soldiers had shot a bullet in his heart and downed the shutter of shop to left him die in pain. I nudged him but he was dead. They silenced a boy who loved to talk,” said Samiullah Sartaj’s brother.

    On Dec 15, the same B.S.F party came in the area and repented over the incident and said they have killed the innocents, locals said.

    However, an FIR (FIR No. 306/03) lodged by the B.S.F, at the concerned Police Station at Parimpora, put down all these claims. The FIR reads that the 193 B.n. of B.S.F on specific tip-off about the movement of the Jaish militant laid a siege at Srinagar-Baramulla national highway near Boatman colony Bemina. A motorbike borne militant was intercepted and asked to stop; he took off his helmet, shot the jawan who came to frisk him and tried to skip away. The B.S.F men opened fire, shooting him in leg. The militant fell down but again took out a pistol and fired two rounds. The B.S.F men retaliated and in the shootout the two civilians got trapped, and killed. One Pistol and three grenades were recovered from his possession.

    But the residents of the area alleged that the firing was unjustified, unwarranted and unprovoked. The scooterist who was chased by the forces was beaten up ruthlessly but he was not fired, which demonstrates that he possessed no weapon, revealed the locals.

ROBERT THORP AWARDS FUNCTION AND DEBATE ON NATIONAL HEROES OF KASHMIR

    Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) organized a debate-cum-award function in hotel Broadway on 28th Dec. The debate titled “National Heroes of Kashmir” in which eminent persons from different walks of life Professors, Doctors, Lawyers, Journalists and students participated. The programme was divided in two segments, in the first half there was a debate and in the second half the award ceremony was held.

    The debate “National Heroes of Kashmir” was organized to throw light on the lives of the people of Kashmir who played an important role in bringing about a social and political revolution in Jammu and Kashmir. The distinguished speakers shed light on such heroes of Kashmir.

    Subhan Hajaam was a much-discussed personality as he had played the most important part in abolishing the menace of prostitution in valley, which was galore at the time of Maharajas. Subhan was illiterate, a barber by profession yet he exhibited courage and vision much greater than the literate intellectuals of his time. With no help from any quarter single handedly he laid a campaign to abolish the trade. He had to face lot of problems but that did not deter him from his cause and finally he succeeded in his mission. But society never accredited him with the honour. The debate by JKCCS was conducted to provide a platform from where the contributions of such great heroes would be acknowledged. On the occasion Subhan’s son, Ghulam Nabi Hajaam was honoured by the civil society. He also gave a brief description of his father’s struggle to abolish prostitution and the subsequent problems faced by his family. The debate was very enlightening.

    The programme started from 11 to 5pm in the evening. In the first half, Vice President (JKCCS) Zahir-ud-din welcomed the audience and the speakers and gave a brief outline of the debate. He started his speech with the words “who we are” and “what our roots are”. He highlighted certain wrong notions regarding Kashmir history like it has produced only traitors and no heroes and then went on to commemorate lesser known personalities in Kashmir history like Abdul Salaam Rafiqui and Subhan Hajaam. Mr Zahir put a question mark on certain beliefs regarding the history of journalism in Kashmir as ‘Vitasta’ being considered as first news paper published in the valley while as in reality it was Al–Rafiq brought out by Mr. Abdul Salaam Rafiqui about whom not much is known. Zahir mentioned about Subhan Hajaam who came at loggerheads with the might of Maharaja for eradicating the menace of prostitution. He emphasized on the fact that Kashmiris need to know about its ethos so that the future generation is rightly informed and they feel proud of their past as well. He also gave a brief speech about JKCCS and termed it as amalgam of many NGO’s working on social, legal and human rights front.

    President of JKCCS Adv. Parvez Imroz delivered the keynote speech. In his speech he explained the stand of JKCCS and its role in addressing the vital issues like human rights. He also laid the emphasis on the need for the award and debate on unsung heroes of Kashmir. “If we talk about free societies, in free societies nations find heroes and give them the due place in the history. There are heroes in India who are controversial for example whether Subhash Chandra Bose was a hero or not. As far as Kashmir is concerned its history has been distorted, as the saying of Jean Paul Sartre rightly goes here “the potent weapon of colonialism in colonizing the mind was to obliterate the history of the subjected place. In Kashmir people have been told that they have no history, no heroes. To dig the past and give the due place to those who have laid their lives for the Kashmir cause, CCS has decided to rediscover the history and find out the real heroes. Like every nation, Kashmir has its own heroes who have stood up to resist and have faced wrath from the tyrants. But the tragedy is, we Kashmiris know the heroes of other nation but not our own. We all have assembled here to find out our heroes, who made our history and gave them the deserved place. We are still facing injustice, oppression and suppression, what is required is to get the inspiration from past heroes. The irony is that we have people who have raised and claimed to fight against oppression and suppression but large numbers of people have ended up in compromise. These fake heroes have taken the space and their anniversaries are celebrated every year and they have been projected as saviours of this nation. Finally the role of real heroes came to light but we have to make efforts to identify the genuine. How many people know about Subhan Hajaam who abolished prostitution or Abdul Salam Rafiqi who stared the Al-Rafiq who was persecuted to Rangoon and where he discovered the grave of Bahadur Shah Zaffar. Unless we follow past we will never know who our real heroes are. We assembled here with the objective to discover the unsung heroes, to resurrect them and give them proper place and the space which has been taken by the fake heroes and also educate the new generation about these people so they should get inspiration”.

    Other speakers who shed light on the history and contributions of great people in Kashmir were Dr. Altaf, Prof. N.A Baba, Prof. Ishaq, Noor-ul-Hassan and others. Below are the excerpts from the speeches of the speakers who spoke on Robert Thorpe, Subhaan Hajaam and other unsung heroes of Kashmir.

Prof N.A Baba (Head - Department of Political Science, University of Kashmir)
    “Political perception is nothing as such it is all history. Right understanding of history is what we are basically concerned here. Therefore as I know only credentials of my coming here addressing this learning gathering is that my realization as layman Kashmiri we have tremendous distortions of history as they are in the world around us and when I was asked to speak on the subject I felt it was something within my heart. And I realized that this is a tremendous historical initiative if we carry it forward. There are different types of distortions that occur in history, there are certain limitations of historians while working on history. As one historiographer E.H Kar, said, ‘History is the outcome of the historians mind and fact’, therefore some bit of subjectivity does come in history. If people know their history is great, they will have confidence in themselves and if they are told that they don’t have a history they will be different and can be ruled by anyone.

    History is written from the perspective of the victor not from the perspective of the vanquished. Most of the history of the world is distorted by victorious who come up. One of the important ways of emancipation of people who are subjected or subjugated is to correct their vision of history; understand the history not the perspective of the people who have dominated. We have been told that tribals came and looted us but the facts of Jammu were never clearly said. We need to look into forces that created social movements as social movements are sometimes more important than political movements. My feeling is something that we need to correct ourselves. It is a shame on us that we have an education system in which Kashmir history is not taught. Kashmir history should be important in curriculum of J&K. During the Moa-e-Mukadas movement (holy relic of Prophet Mohammad S.A.W. was stolen from Hazratbal Shrine which led to a revolt by the people on large scale) the tremendous historical impact we had generated, if we had correct kind of leadership possibly many sufferings we are undergoing would not be there.”

Dr Altaf Hussain (Paediatrician)
    “I am very grateful to CCS for giving me this opportunity to speak. For me no politician has ever been a hero. I am very comfortable in this gathering, as I don’t have to glorify false gods…. History, as we all know particularly ancient and medieval history mentioned about Rajas, Kutraw, Deda and no mention of you and me. The problem is that even in the contemporary history of Kashmir there is no mention of social & cultural aspects, which is vital. It is always the oppressor, occupier who writes the history. There have been Kashmiris who had virtues & convictions but they were never mentioned or acknowledged and even if they were mentioned they were conveniently forgotten. Talking about the great illustrious son of Kashmir Robert Thorp, I went to his maternal home in Sugian 3 Kms beyond Khag, what was a matter of great pain to me was no one has tried to locate Robert Thorp who sacrificed his life for Kashmir. Also not much is known about a man born in 1910 in Gowkadal, Subhan Hajaam, who died unwept, unsung & unlamented. At a tender age of 14, lot of wrangling was going in his neighbourhood, as prostitution centre had cropped up in Maisuma & Tashwan. He used to be disturbed by the vulgarity he saw around him. He collected lot of children and they started picketing outside those centres and shout slogans against the trade. Flesh trade was not only encouraged but also protected by law. The distinguished advocates took Subhan to courts confined him in prison and trump charges against him. He had to pay to get himself extricated so whatever he used to earn he spent it in the movement against flesh trade and in the courts & prison. Thus he was reduced to economic ruination”.

Noor-ul- Hassan (Ex-Conservator Forests)
    “It is a common notion about Kashmiri that he accepts cruelty but when we examine history, we see he has reacted violently to cruelty on him. Two people were mentioned here who had played same role in Kashmir. Biscoe has served Kashmir society a lot. About Kashmiris he says that ‘Kashmiris have been subjected to tyranny continuously in history. Such tyranny if inflicted upon English nation, it would cease to exist.’ But Kashmiris have the history to retrieve back after every cruelty inflicted upon them. In 1903 during Dogra rule under Pratap Singh, there were eight hundred thousand Muslims and 50,000 Non-Muslims. Ironically schools were located in Non-Muslim areas and Kashmiri Muslims had very little access to these schools. Molvi Rasool Shah opened various schools all over the Srinagar city where Muslim boys would get free education. Prior to that Muslims for various reasons would not get admission in mission schools.

    There was one group, which gave tough time to tyrants it is called Galwaans. Various Dogra rulers subjected them to torture. Ranbhir Singh exiled them. When Kashmiris resisted they were dishonoured. Heavy tax was imposed on shawl weavers. The shawl weavers protested. They took out a large procession to air their grievances to the Maharajas. But at Zaldagar they were fired on and chased. Twenty-two persons fell from the bridge and drowned. The rest were arrested and taken to central jail where half of them died.

    The Kashmiris are not Zulmparast (people who accept oppression without any revolt) but have fought and are still fighting. In 1931 the mutiny started from silk factory. One Mr. King led the labourers. Labourers were trumped under horse feet. Mr. King was arrested and he developed Tuberculosis and died in prison. Kashmiris were not allowed to take honey from the combs simply because somebody had gone to Ranbir Singh and told him that Gulab Singh’s soul had been transmitted into a honeybee and as such it was banned. Then somebody reported fish had gulped that honeybee. In 1864 fishing was thus banned. Any body who dared to defy met a miserable plight. Morley reports ‘on my way to Fateh kadal I saw a man tied to rope and fishes tied to him with strings. Crows had gathered on his body, and were biting the fish. By the time I was back this man had fallen and crows and kites’ were devouring him. We must have some sought of introspection about our national heroes. We had people and we still have people.”

Mr. Zareef Ahmad Zareef (Journalist)
    “Many people about whom little has been heard have played important role in history of Kashmir. One such man was Usman Chach who was a thief by profession but was moved by the plight of Kashmiris whose property had been held at ransom by Ram Kaul, a moneylender. Ram Kaul used to lend money to people at very high interests. In the Srinagar city alone he had 900 houses, which he had forcibly acquired as the people could not pay high interests. Usman went to his house took out all records and destroyed them. He is also unsung hero of Kashmir.”

Dr. Abdul Gani Madhosh (Psychologist)
    “I appreciate & congratulate Parvez Imroz for asking us to come here and read from the unread pages of history. Heroes of deed but unsung and unheard. A real political hero is the one who enters into the tide and changed its course. Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah once did it. For last 15 years we find that thousands of people, men, women in distress who need rescue and empowering. 58000 people are under depression they need counselling. Moulvi Ghulam Rasool died at early age of 32 otherwise he would have been an answer to Biscoe. Understanding of history gives us a feeling of greatness. We live in a culture of suppression & silence we need to wake from culture of silence through culture of voice.”

Dr Sheikh Showkat (Professor - Department of Law, University of Kashmir)
    “When we have to identify heroes of civil society of Kashmir our level should be high. We have 14 years of heroic struggle where we have produced heroes in every locality. We do not mention him as heroes who died few yards away from this place & wrote freedom on the wall with blood soaked fingers. For past 36 years books were written on Kashmir, 31 by non-Kashmiris, 4 by Kashmiri pundits and 2 were by Kashmiri Muslim. In order to trace national heroes we must resort to writings and the problem is when we perceive someone as hero we need to reinvent and reorient our history but also redefine Kashmir. Our history has been written by motivated people. We have to shed our inhibitions of getting branded with this group or that. We need emancipation. Sheikh Abdullah did emancipate us from the clutches of feudal system, but he landed us in political mess irrespective of the fact that is to my liking or not.”

Mr P.G Rasool (Columnist)
    “Today’s seminar is a path breaking one. The imposed history is one of the worst structures of oppression. Sir Walter Lawrence was not only teacher but also fought for Kashmiris during Pratap Singh’s rule. He fought for land settlement and made Kashmiris land owners. Sir Alvian Bannerjee Prime Minister of Kashmir resigned in 1929 and had said, ‘Kashmiri Muslims are treated by Maharajas as dumb driven cattle’.    We should mention Maqbool Bhat as our great national hero.”

Prof. Ishaq Khan (Professor – Department of History, University of Kashmir)
    “Among several lesser known or unknown persons who have exercised subtle influence on my find is Mohd Subhan Hajam popularly known as Subhan Naeed. Although a barber by profession his social role in the history of modern Kashmir merits scholarly attention. Tyndale Biscoe the founder of modern education in Kashmir highlights the social role of Subhan Naeed, ‘he was continuously disturbed at night by the ribald songs and also by wrangling. What really upset Subhan Naeed were the cries of anguish from the unfortunate recently forced into this cruel life many of them quiet young who had been sold on the pretence of marriage. Moved by the cries of these people the barber sought the help of some decent men in fighting the evil of prostitution,’ wrote Tyndale Biscoe. He wrote pamphlets. Paradoxically even a social writer like Prem Nath Bazaz did not deem it proper to make a passing reference to Subhan Naeed in his writings. In 1880 Maharajas received 15-25 % of the whole revenue of his state from the gains of his licensed prostitutes. According to one social estimate there were 18,715 state prostitutes in Kashmir. Diseases were fast spreading in them, which is evident from the Srinagar Mission Hospital report, which says that during 1977-79 the total no of cases treated were 12,977 of those 2,516 were venereal diseases. Another misery to which the prostitutes were subjected-they could not marry & settle down as respective women. Subhan’s only qualification was his dedication to the cause of Kashmir and Kashmiris. He did not aim at personal aggrandizement. Today I consider it a privilege to chronicle the unrecorded talks about the historical role of the neglected and under privileged barber. His social protest, indeed liberated the under privileged women of our society from the chains of social exploitation”.

    All the speeches were very interesting and eye opener for the audience especially young students who were not aware of such heroes and history of Kashmir.

Robert Thorp Award Ceremony
    The second part of the programme comprised of the awards function. Dr. Bashir gave a brief introduction of Robert Thorp and why this award. In his briefing he shed light on the life of Robert Thorp and his contribution to alleviate the sufferings of Kashmir under the rule of Maharajas. The award was then conferred to Patricia Gossman who could not be present in person but Toru Takashi; a Japanese researcher received the award on her behalf. Her video speech was shown to the audience present.

    The CCS to honour individuals who in any way have contributed to the cause of Kashmir and Kashmiri people has constituted the Robert Thorp award. Robert Thorp a young British army officer arrived in Kashmir as a tourist in 1865. British had sold Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh. Kashmiris were treated as slaves as they lost, ownership, rights, honour and dignity but as slaves were forced to do whatever their masters wanted. Twenty seven year old Thorp stayed longer to study the appalling conditions of the people of his mother’s birthplace. Thorp took it to himself to inform and educate the British people about situation in Kashmir by writing to the British press without caring for the consequences. Thorp felt British were responsible for the condition of people in Kashmir. Thorp pleaded before the government to release Kashmiris from wretched condition. He published a book “Kashmir Mis-Government”. He travelled to every nook and corner of the valley. Trouble came when Thorp was ordered to leave valley. Undeterred Thorp returned to Srinagar on November 21, 1868 and next morning after his breakfast he was found dead in mysterious circumstances. Thorp was buried in Christian cemetery in Sheikh Bagh area of the Srinagar city. The epitaph on his grave reads ‘Robert Thorp – aged 30 who sacrificed his life for Kashmir on 22nd November 1868”. Thorp’s death forced the British to review the situation in Kashmir and steps were taken to improve the plight of Kashmiris.

    The JKCCS has decided to confer Robert Thorp award every year on his death anniversary 22nd November. This year the award was given to Patricia Gossman. Gossman is associated with Human Rights Watch – an international human rights organization. The executive board of CCS unanimously decided to confer the award to her for her contribution towards the Kashmiri people.

    Patricia visited Kashmir for the first time in 1990. In 1991 she prepared a report ‘Kashmir under siege’ and in 1993 ‘The Human Right Crisis in Kashmir.’ She worked with many human right activists like Hriday Nath Wanchoo, Dr. Farooq Ashai, Dr. Guru, all of whom were later killed. Patricia worked to document cases of human right abuses in Kashmir. In fact she incurred the wrath of Indian government by reporting on the atrocities committed on the people of Kashmir. Her entry to Kashmir has been debarred by Indian authorities. Japanese researcher Takashi received the award on her behalf. Patricia had sent a video message, which was shown to the audience present there. In her video speech she expressed gratitude to JKCCS for honouring her and hoped that human rights violation would cease in Kashmir. Below are the excerpts from her speech.

    “I am honoured & deeply moved to accept this award from the executive board of the JKCCS. But it is not really for myself that I feel honoured. The award belongs more rightly to you yourselves who have so long struggled to represent the views of the Kashmiri people and to make known to the world their right to be heard and protected from the abuse of power by armed forces acting in the name of Indian state, and from abuses by armed groups of varying ideologies trying to impose their will on Kashmir. I am honoured to have worked with you and have played my small part in sharing your views and telling the story of what has been happening in Kashmir to the rest of the world. I say I am honoured to accept this award. But I say so with regrets as I would have liked so much to be telling you this in person rather than through a video recording. It has been eight years since I visited Kashmir. Although I have tried to obtain a visa many times I have not been able to do so and I do not think that the government of India will allow me a visa any time soon. But do not think I have forgotten you. Finally it is you, and not just the usual round of negotiators from Islamabad and Delhi who will be heard. If civil society is to flourish in Kashmir it must fight for its space in the media, in the negotiating table and in all public forms. I wish I could be there with all of you now, but in my heart I am. Thank you again.”

    After the Award ceremony there was a question answer session and members in audience posed question to various speakers. It was a very lively discussion. Finally the programme ended with note of optimism and JKCCS decided to organize more such seminars and debates in the near future.


Char-i-Sharief: Custodial killing
    Gul Hajaam was picked up by troops of 53 RR camped at Kanidhajan, Char-I-Sharief and later tortured to death in custody.
    Brari Pather, Char-I-Sharief: “Either be a militant or be associated with army. There is no point being a normal civilian in Kashmir”, cry out the villagers of Brari Pather as they weep and mourn the custodial killing of their fellow resident, Gul Hajaam.

    “After all a reason is given for a killing, but we (villagers) are still waiting for the answer why Gul Hajaam, an innocent civilian was killed in custody of army personnel,” the villagers ask in unison while speaking to Informative Missive.

    Gul Hajaam, father of six, was killed in the intervening night of 22nd Dec in his native village, Brari Pather, a remote hilly village about 49 Kms from Srinagar city. According to villagers, Gul Hajaam, a radio mechanic by profession was picked up by army personnel on Sunday, 2 pm during a search operation from his home and was killed next day in custody of 53 RR stationed at Kanidhajan, Char-I-Sharief,

    “Why they killed him, nobody knows, he repaired radios and never indulged in any subversive activity says Bashir Ahmad, relative of Gul Hajaam adding that villagers are still in a state of shock and can’t believe that a civilian could be killed in such a brutal manner.

    “No firing took place in the village, he (Hajaam) was picked from his home and was asked to accompany the RR personnel in search operation” says Akleema, wife of Hajaam adding it was only the next day, the body of Hajaam was handed over to the authorities.

    Akleema said the body of her husband bore no bullet marks, “The army personnel had brutally tortured my husband, and blood was oozing from his stomach adding that the army and police personnel from Char-I-Sharief police station didn’t allow the villagers to bury Hajaam. The deceased has left behind him 80 year old paralytic mother, “Do we have to beg for our living now”, says Akleema while breaking into sobs, the eldest son of Gul Hajaam, Riyaz (15) hasn’t spoken a word since his father’s killing.

    “They (soldiers) were asking for some photograph. They spilled the pulses and grains on the ground”, says eight-year-old Fayaz, son of Hajaam. The family has lost their only bread earner, “Who will look after my six children“, says Akleema, while breast-feeding her seven month old daughter, Rozy.

    Nizammuddin Hajaam, 38, who was also detained by the troops during the search operations said he was accused of harbouring and feeding militants, “I am a poor man, I barely manage to feed my family of seven, how can I feed the militants”, Hajaam says.

    The deputy commissioner, Budgam, Bashir Ahmad said that the post mortem of the deceased has been conducted and the inquiry would be completed in one month.

65-YEAR-OLD MAN HARASSED

Dec 7: A resident of Kupwara, Jamaal Dar, was allegedly beaten up by the Major of 6 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) camped at Kakroosa, Handwara in district Kupwara of north Kashmir.

Sixty five year old Jamaal Dar spoke to The Informative Missive about his ordeal: -
    “On the morning of December 7th at around 7:00 a.m. nearly nine army personnel came at my residence and told me that the Major was calling me outside. When I went to the Major he took me to the Kakroosa camp nearly 2 km away from my home. And in the camp he kept me in a bunker up to 11:30 am. Thereafter, I was interrogated by the Major on the pretext of being affiliated with ongoing militancy. He ruthlessly beat me up with a cane due to which my right leg and left shoulder sustained grievous injuries. While beating me, he accused me of throwing grenades on security force vehicles whenever I visited Srinagar. I repeatedly explained him that I visited Srinagar to pursue the case of my disappeared son whose whereabouts are not known since August 2000 but to no avail. It was only around 5:00 p.m. I was allowed to go, but with the condition that I have to make regular attendance in the camp.

    To escape the Major’s wrath, I fled my house along with my granddaughter and grandson (children of my disappeared son) who are 4 and 6 years old. I took refuge at my relatives’ house at Dadipora Chak, which is about 2 km away from my residence.

    I believe that my daughter-in-law who remarried after my son’s disappearance is behind my ordeal. She married a political activist working for the army. Actually, my daughter-in-law wants to pressurize me to bequeath my property to my grandchildren, which during my lifetime is not possible. I have filed a report in the concerned police station against my daughter-in-law and her second husband”.

    The condition of Jamaal Dar is pitiable; as he left his home and hearth along with his two minor grandchildren for the fear of facing worst from the army official who are according to him are out to trap him.  Jamaal is also an activist of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP).

UPROAR IN ASSEMBLY OVER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Dec10: National conference (NC) today moved an adjournment motion in the legislative assembly, which commenced here this morning. The former finance minister and senior NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather asking a thorough debate on Human Rights violations in the state moved the adjournment. Earlier all NC MLAs’ except Dilawar Mir staged a walkout when the Chief Minister was not replying to the adjournment motion moved by Rather. Ultimately speaker Tara Chand accepted the motion. Chief Minister Mufti Sayed saying ‘being world human rights day’ the house detailed discussion on human rights also accepted the adjournment motion. Starting off the debate, Mr. Rather lambasted Coalition government for not containing human rights violations in the state adding soon after assuming office present regime had promised to disband SOG and implement all its manifestations, which did not happen. He also alleged Mufti government of adopting a non complacent attitude towards Human Rights violations saying during one year of its rule the present government has suspended only one SOG man who was found guilty of gross human rights violation but nothing more was initiated against the erring official. In this connection Mr. Rather referred to Amnesty International, which asked J&K Government to hold back on HR violations and restore law of the land besides implementing Common Minimum Programme that was assured to the people of the State.

    The senior NC leader alleged that till August 2003, the security forces have killed 344 civilians while the figure stood 215 during the corresponding year when NC was in rule. NC Jammu province & former Rural Development Minister, Ajay Sadhotra said Coalition had promised that not even a single instance of HR violations will take place. He said 125 persons were reported missing and custodial deaths have increased considerably only 30 probes have been ordered that too pending disposals. NC MLA and former Home Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar recalled the first HR violations occurred when Moulvi Farooq’s procession was fired in which one hundred people were killed followed by killing of approximately 450 people in Hazratbal and Ganderbal. Sagar admitted that HR violations happened at the time of NC rule but said during NC rule 210 army personnel, 125 B.S.F men and 29 officers were convicted for HR violations.

    NC MLA from Kupwara Mr. Saifullah in his speech also castigated Coalition government for aggravating HR violations. Contradicting the claims of his colleague he said besides 153 disappearances & 530 custodial killings, over one thousand civilians have been killed in the last one-year.

    In the backlash of allegations on Coalition Government, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, “people do expect no HR violations from the government but incidents have happened in the past when NC was in power and they still continue to occur despite hard efforts of the Coalition to check it.”

    Winding up the session Chief Minister Mufti Sayed reiterated his stand to restore peace with dignity in the state. Admitting HR violations as a grave issue confronting the state he said a cell in the home department for a follow up action on HR violations would be constituted adding that those found guilty would not go scot-free. He refuted the charges that present government was sleeping over HR violation. He said that against the 1098 civilians killing in 2001-02 the number of such killings has declined to 736 in 2003.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Dec10: Watch Victim Human Rights Organization today on the International Human rights Day organized a seminar at Welcome hotel. Noted human right activists of the valley at the seminar accused India of unleashing reign of terror in Jammu & Kashmir. Speaking in the seminar APDP patron Parvez Imroz said that present government has done nothing to improve the human rights situation in the state. There has been increase in custodial deaths, enforced disappearance and other such heinous crimes. However, he added that Mufti government couldn’t stop troops, as he has no control over them. Stating the situation was very grave he asked people to speak against the abuses. He said, “People should strengthen those institutions which are working for human rights. Great responsibility lies on the educated class of Kashmir and they should come forward to raise voices against human rights abuses. Sloganeering and rhetoric will not serve any purpose, if you want to save people you have to come forward and break the silence.”

    The Chairman ‘Kashmir Watch Victim’ Engineer Ghulam Rasool Dar said violations were taking place in the state on large scale, “there has been an increase in custodial killings, enforced disappearance and other human rights abuses, as government is providing general amnesty to the armed forces. Dar asked United Nations General Secretary to direct India to adhere to various international covenants to which India was signatory. India, he said should be pressurized to allow United Nations special reporters, Amnesty International, Asia watch and other non-governmental organizations to visit Kashmir.

    The Chairman on behalf of the organization wrote a letter to Secretary General, United Nations organization. Below are the excerpts of the letter to Kofi Anan. “The right to self determination of the Kashmiri nation is enshrined in the United Nations resolution. Kashmir demand could be found in the declaration & granting of independence ‘all people have the right to self determination by virtue of the right they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic & cultural development’. The first article of both International Covenants of Article 27 of international covenants on civil and political rights (ICPR) as well as article 55 of United Nations charter codifies the meaning of the right to self-determination as derived from customary International law.

    The custodial killings, enforced disappearances is phenomenon, which the people of Jammu & Kashmir are experiencing on regular basis and perpetrators of these atrocities are the Indian forces acting on the direction of their government. There has been incredible increase in the custodial killings and other human right abuses. This is because of the reason that general amnesty is being provided to the armed forces responsible for the human rights violation of all sorts. Indian occupation forces have used all the methods to suppress the on going liberation struggle. The state has let loose reign of terror by deploying seven hundred thousand military, paramilitary forces, police and special operations group. Forces have killed more than ninety thousand people consisting of men, women and children. Custodial killing, blasting of houses destruction of market place, unprovoked firing on peaceful demonstrations have been used to break the will of the people.

    While terrorism in any form must be condemned, curtailing human rights and freedom of citizen is not acceptable. If the establishment forms dispensation of justice is subverted in the name of controlling terrorism it will defeat the very objective of creating a just order. Also there is real fear that in the name of controlling terrorism, most of the governments are using these special laws to crush the genuine struggle”. Many seminars were organized by different organization on the International Human Rights day and protest rally against the atrocities were also held in several parts of the valley.

350 PERSONS ARE LANGUISHING IN KOT BHALWAL

Dec 22: A political party delegation headed by its Chairman Mohammad Yousuf Naqash visited the Kot Bhalwal jail and claimed the non-ethical approach of the government towards the detenues. Citing the instances the team says, “One Mushtaq Ahmad alias Mushtaq-ul-Islam resident of Batamaloo Srinagar (commander of militant group Hizbullah, which stands disintegrated now) arrested 13 years ago under PSA, is still lying in the jail, serving his 7th PSA sentence.

    The team alleged that the police authority has not even bothered to take him (Mushtaq-ul-Islam) out for court hearing. The team further alleged that most of the detainees in the jail already stand acquitted by the state High Court. Some of the detenues, who are eligible to be released, include the names of Salim Zargar, Farooq Ahmad alias Bitta Karate and Abdul Aziz, all of them having served a sentence of more than 13 years. The team also accused the SHRC for its “partial role” in seeking justice for the detainees.

6 KASHMIRIS LANGUISH IN OUTSIDE JAILS

Dec 29: Despite the repeated assurances by the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed in State Assembly that no detenue from the state would be lodged in jails outside the state. At least six Kashmiri youths are still spending their lives in Jodhpur, Sangroor, Hazaribagh and Agra jails from the last one-year. Official figures revealed that two Kashmiri youth are presently lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan, two others in Central jail Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It is pertinent to mention here that soon after taking the reign of power Mufti had assured the assembly that the deteunes who were lodged outside the state would be brought back to the state. However even after the year, government is mum about its promise. Nazir Ahmad Bhat s/o Mohd Ramzaan, Abdul Hamid s/o Abdul Salam Bhat and Mohd Iqbal Chech s/o Mohd Shafi all residents of Bazipora, Baramulla are reportedly involved in case FIR No 85/02 police station Kothi Bagh for their alleged involvement in sensational bomb blast in which 14 persons including SHO Kothi Bagh Mushtaq Ahmad Baba were killed. Nazir was arrested in Oct 2002 for his alleged involvement in the bomb blast. He is presently lodged in Jodhpur jail with effect from Nov 6, 2002 vide DMS/PSA/73/2002. Abdul Hamid of Ajas Bandipora, Baramulla is presently detained in Central jail Hazari Baghvide Government order No. Home/PBV/147/03 dated February 5, 2003 for 24 months with effect from November 6, 2002.

    Tariq Ahmad Khan of Pulwama is allegedly involved in case FIR No 176/97 under section 7/25 AA which is subjudice before District and Session Judge Pulwama. Sources in the home department claimed that he was brought to central jail Srinagar where he allegedly used to brief his inmates to continue Jihad. He was thus sent to Central jail Sangrror Punjab. Imtiaz Ahmad Bhat s/o Ghulam Muhammad Bhat of Shopian FIR No 286/97 under section 307 RPC police station Shopian is presently lodged in Central Jail Sangroor. Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karatey s/o Ghulam Rasool r/o Guru Bazar FIR No135/89 police station Shaheed Gunj is presently lodged in Central jail Agra under PSA.

ZARGAR RELEASED AFTER 14 YEARS

Dec 29: Senior militant leader Muhammad Saleem Zargar was accorded a rousing reception after serving 14 years in detention.

    Zargar who crossed over to Pak Administered Kashmir in 1988 and joined Students liberation front (SLF) in 1988, was arrested by the paramilitary forces in early nineties. He was the district Commander of SLF, a forerunner in Kashmir militancy, at the time of his arrest.

TROOPS KILL YOUTH

Dec 5: Troops of 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) allegedly killed a youth during cordon and search operation at Markoot Panzala area of district Baramulla in north Kashmir.

    Shabir Ahmad Khan son of Mohammad Akbar Khan of Markoot Panzala was purportedly picked up by the troops of 28 RR during a crack down on the pretext of guiding them during search operation of the village, which Shabir obliged. While he was leading the troops towards the village houses, the troops without any provocation shot him dead. The whole area was shocked over the killing and villagers expressed their resentment over the killing.

ARMY ASSAULTS AMBULANCE DRIVER DOCTORS THREATEN INDEFINITE STRIKE, IF GUILTY NOT PUNISHED
Dec 7: Army allegedly assaulted an ambulance driver of government hospital carrying some lady patients at Manjakote, Rajouri. Doctors at the hospital threatened to resort to indefinite strike if government failed to punish the guilty.

    An ambulance of the hospital was on his way to drop some lady patients at Manjakote where a joint army and civil administration medical camp was held. Two to three army jeeps at Manjakote tried to overtake the ambulance but failed to do so due to congested road and traffic rush on the road.

    Irked by this army personnel intercepted the ambulance and thrashed the driver Mohammad Rashid brutally. In the assault, the right arm and jaw of driver were fractured and dislocated respectively. The accused personnel even tried to strangulate him with a rope. Annoyed by the incident, the doctors and paramedical staff of the hospital threatened to go on indefinite strike, if the erring personnel were not brought to book.

DISAPPEARANCES

* URI YOUTH DISAPPEARS
Since the first weekend of December whereabouts of a youth hailing from Naga Nari, Uri, Baramulla in north Kashmir are not known. The disappeared has been identified as Abdul Majeed Khan Son of Gala Khan of Uri.

* BOY DISAPPEARS
Dec 5: Whereabouts of a boy Mohammad Dawood Sofi son of Mohammad Subhan Sofi of Mutfaabad, Zainakote, HMT are not known since he left his home on December 5.His family has no clue about his whereabouts despite making tireless efforts.
 
* 19 YEAR OLD DISAPPEARS
    In yet another case of enforced disappearance, a nineteen-year-old boy was allegedly picked up by Special Task Force (STF) on December 5 from Jahangir Chowk, Srinagar and thereafter his whereabouts are not known.

    Reports said, Parvez Ahmad Qureshi, 19, son of Abdul Gani Sheikh a resident of Surigam, Kupwara came to Srinagar to earn livelihood sometimes back. He was selling Ristas (a Kashmiri dish) at Jehangir crossing. On Dec 5, a group of armed men picked him up at around 7:30 pm and took him in a Sumo bearing no JK01G 4007, hitherto his whereabouts are not known.

    His brother Tariq Ahmad said one of their relatives working in police department informed him that a police party of STF camp Kupwara arrested him for unknown reasons. In this connection Tariq approached the STF camp but without any success. Tariq left no stone unturned in search of his brother but failed to get any clue about Parvez.
 
    “I went to Kot Bhalwal Jammu, Kupwara police station and Shaheed Gunj police station but found him nowhere” added Tariq.Since he was the sole breadwinner, his family is suffering a lot. His mother is under severe depression and the health of his ailing father is deteriorating day by day. However, the police said that they have launched a search to locate Parvez.

    On Dec 19, the continuous disappearance of Parvez compelled the inhabitants of Lolab, Kupwara to take to street. The protestors were demanding the immediate disclosure of Parvez’s whereabouts.

CIVILIAN KILLED IN CUSTODY

Dec 30:  A civilian was killed in custody by troops at Thodi Lolab some days ago. Sources said that 19 RR stationed in Thodi area of Lolab in Kupwara district on Dec 26, took into their custody Habib Ullah Chohan s/o Jamal ud din Chohan from his residence during a raid. The family said that they searched for him at every place including the camp of troops. When they again contacted the army officers, they were told to look for the missing person in the forest. The relatives later found the body of HabibUllah Chohan from the forests alleging that troops had killed him in the custody for the “sin of innocence”. The army spokesperson, however, denied the involvement. Police said that unidentified persons in the area hanged Chohan to death. Habib was a shepherd who used to take his animals near LOC for grazing.

    SHRC has directed the Inspector General of police, Kashmir range to submit a detailed report about the alleged custodial killing of Habibullah.

PANCH KILLED IN ‘CUSTODY’, PROTEST IN KISHTWAR

Dec 29: People of Sigidi area in Chatroo of Kishtwar Tehsil today demonstrated against the alleged ‘custodial killing’ of one Mohammad Rafiq Chopan.

    Reliable sources said that Chopan was a member of Panchayat and was killed by the security forces. The protestors demanded a CBI probe into the killing. People alleged that security forces were indulging in propaganda and described the identity of killed Panchayat member as militant. The deceased is survived by three minor children and wife who are left without a breadwinner in the family. The locals threatened to intensify their protest if an impartial probe was not ordered.

SOLDIER PUNISHED: ARMY

Dec 9: Army claimed that they have awarded punishment of dismissal from service of a jawan involved in molestation. A complaint was lodged against an army jawan for allegedly molesting a woman at police station Thanamandi on August 24. Police after carrying out investigation, filed the challan in the court of judicial magistrate.

    As per the defense spokesman army took the case in their hands on September 21, 2003 for its speedy finalization. Investigations were carried out and a court martial tried the jawan on December 2, 2003. The jawan was found guilty of the offence and was awarded an exemplary punishment of ‘dismissal of service.’ The spokesperson said that the speedy investigations finalization with award of punishment was done to uphold the ethics and norms of service.

926 PERSONS BEHIND BARS

Dec 16: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed informed the Legislative Assembly that total number of 926 persons are languishing in jails out of whom 514 under PSA while 412 are in judicial custody. There were also 24 foreign nationals waiting for deportation to their native country, CM added. The government at one time had admitted that at least 1400 person were lodged in various jails of the state while 100 were lodged outside the state.

EXPANSION OF 42 MORE BATTALIONS TO COUNTER INSURGENCY IN KASHMIR

Dec 7: To counter militancy in Kashmir, 42 more battalions of Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) are to be added with the change of Border Security Forces (BSF) with CRPF. “We are planning a huge expansion as internal security will hitherto be managed by the CRPF”, said Kawaljeet Singh, the CRPF’s Additional Director General for northwest zone.

    The BSF should be deployed only along the border, along with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Special Service Bureau (SSB). The BSF has 57 battalions deployed in Kashmir. Of these, eight in Srinagar have been replaced by the CRPF and the remaining will be replaced in a phased manner in the next one year.

18 INJURED AS ARMY OPENS FIRE IN RAJOURI
Probe ordered
Jammu, Dec 2: At least half a dozen civilians received bullet injuries when the army men resorted to indiscriminate firing on the irate mob which had blocked the Darhal- Rajouri road to protest the high handedness of troops in Kothra village under the jurisdiction of police station, Darhal, in the Rajouri district. Deputy General of police (DIG) Rajouri–Poonch, S.M Sahai has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

    The army men also cane charged the protestors in which more than a dozen civilians were injured and were later admitted in the district hospital. Numberdar, Manzoor Hussain s/o Fiaz Mohammad of the village Kothra had been picked by the army men for questioning. The jawans reportedly tortured the numberdar alleging his links with some anti national elements. The villagers were irked by the high handedness of the army men and staged a protest. The army jawans of 31 Grenadiers regiment, under the supervision of major opened fire on them in which six persons received bullet injuries. And also cane charged them in which many were injured. However, the defense spokes person said that a militant had merged in the mob and opened fire on them and they retaliated. An FIR has been registered in Darhal police station against the erring jawans. Later the DC announced a probe into the incident.

EXCESSES

Dec 7: Thousands of people thronged on the streets to protest the alleged excesses committed by the troops in Seelu Sopore area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir. Scores of people were beaten up. Villagers in large number took to streets to protest the alleged thrashing of residents by the troops deployed in their area. The demonstration continued till late in the evening despite the efforts made by the state police to pacify the protestors.

* SHOPKEEPER BEATEN
Dec 9: A shopkeeper, Sajjad Ahmad Dar son of Wali Mohammad Dar of Batengoo, Khanabal was allegedly beaten up by the soldiers of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) when he demanded money for the goods brought by the soldiers from his shop over past few days. Irked by the soldier’s action, residents of the area went on streets, blocked the traffic and shouted slogans. To disperse the protestors’ police resorted to cane charge.

KILLING OF COLLEAGUES BY SOLDIERS

* SOLDIER KILLS TWO COLLEAGUES
Dec 8: Following a quarrel an army jawan shot dead his two colleagues and injured another with his service riffle at Janglate near Ghatti area in district Kathua. Reports said, a Lance Naik of 167-field regiment identified as Jagtar Singh had a tiff with his colleagues over some issue. After heated debate Jagtar left the spot. Thereafter, half an hour later he reappeared on the spot with his official weapon and fired indiscriminately on his colleagues. He even shot at himself to give an impression of militant attack. Two of his colleagues died on the spot however, the third one sustained bullet injuries.

    The deceased were identified as Havaldar Romesh Singh and Havaldar Jeet Singh both residents of Himachal Pradesh, while the injured has been identified as Havaldar Baldev Singh of Punjab. Police have registered a case in this connection and kept accused soldier under custody.
 
* SOLDIER KILLS COLLEAGUE
Dec 13: An army jawan allegedly killed his colleague by his service rifle at Bari Brahamana area of Jammu provision. Reports revealed, an army jawan Jadish Singh of 14 Sikh regiment went rash and opened fire on his associate Satnam Singh who died immediately on the spot. The reason behind this killing incident could not be ascertained.

* SOLDIER KILLS COLLEAGUE ON MERE SUSPICION
Dec 24: A Border Security Forces (BSF) man allegedly killed his colleague as he mistook him for a militant at Mamar Kangan camp. Reports said, the slain soldier had gone out to attend the call of nature and when his colleague noticed some movement. The soldier shouted upon him. After receiving no response the soldier on guard fired at him, which resulted into his on spot death.

DODA DIARY

* Kuldeep Kumar s/o Neel Kanth r/o Kalichand Doda, is reportedly missing from his home. He has allegedly received armed training and is operating with the militants of the area.

* Abid Hussain 20 s/o Riyaz Ahmad Rather of Marmat was taken into custody by 10 RR from Nagri Doda. Now the authorities are reluctant to say anything about his arrest.

* Two civilians died due to indiscriminate firing by PSO of congress leader in Chilly Gondho. It is said that the Police department has engaged Congress leader Mohan Sabir’s five sons for him as personal security guards. The deceased has been identified as Shahina w/o Wali Mohd and Abdul Gani s/o Wali Mohammad.

*An army official was killed in Padnazi Bonjwal of Khath Tehsil by his own colleagues. He was identified as Kuldeep Kumar.

*Civilians were beaten in Marmat by 8RR. One person Ram was critically injured due to firing in Arnora. He was later hospitalized.

* One civilian Farooq Ahmad s/o Ghulam Qadir a PHE employee was taken to custody by 10 RR. He was beaten ruthlessly and shifted to police station Dessa in morbid condition.

*Reports from Ramban said that people in Halla Ramban were beaten by VDC members & SPO’s. VDC and SPO have let loose reign of terror in the area. One civilian namely Pratap Singh s/o Janak Singh was allegedly burnt to death by VDC members in Lassi Bhagwal. His Kotha (hut) was burnt early in the morning when he was sleeping. Some of the VDC members have been identified as Balwant Singh s/o mast Ram, and Shib Singh s/o Ram Singh. In this connection FIR 302 436 RPC has been lodged.

*One civilian namely Mustafa 13 s/o Mohd Aslam of Kahara Gondha was killed during wee hours of the morning. FIR u/s 302,309,7/25 in Police station Gondoh against 11 RR has been lodged. Deputation met District administrative officer regarding the unjustified killing.

WOMEN PROTEST YOUTHS’ ARREST

Dec 31: Several women were injured when troops used force to disperse procession of women protesting against the torture of youth by the forces stationed at Chowgam in Shopian. Militants had attacked an SOG camp followed by an attack on the army camp in the area last night. In the morning troops went berserk and laid siege around the whole area and thrashed people including women and elders. Women were made to stand bare footed on frozen snow. Troops also held at least 20 youth who were taken to the local camp where they were allegedly undressed, given electric shock and kept in cold. When women came out to protest the alleged atrocities, demanding release of youth, troops used force to disperse them, injuring many.

CIVILIAN KILLED, 4 ABDUCTED BY MILITANTS IN GOOL

Jammu, Dec 17: A civilian was shot dead while four others were abducted by the militants from village Gagersula in Gool area of district Udhampur. A group of heavily armed militants came into village Gagar Sulla in Gool Udhampur late last night. The militants shot dead a civilian who refused to purchase their daily ration from market while abducted four others. The deceased has been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad s/o Sadar Din Shah of Gagar Sulla. The abducted civilians were identified as Hafiz Ullah s/o Mubarak Shah, Mohammad Yasin,s/o Abdul Ahad Shah Zaheer Ahmad s/o Ghulam Ahmed and Mohammad Rafi s/o Abdul Rahim Chandeli – all residents of Gagarsulla. The police party and troops rushed to the village after getting information of the incident. One of the abductees, Hafiz Ullah returned safely to his village in the evening. Police is questioning him about the whereabouts of other abductees. Police however, said that the victims were working as porters for the militants and were transporting ration and other daily things for them. The militants killed a civilian and abducted others on their refusal to continue their services, police said.

PROTEST AGAINST YOUTH’S KILLING IN CM’S HOMETOWN

Srinagar- Dec 17: Protest demonstrations today rocked the hometown of the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Syed against the killing of a local militant. Police resorted to cane charge to disperse the crowd and lobbed tear gas shells.

    A large number of protestors took to streets to protest the killing of Manzoor Ahmad Shah, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant of Baba Mohalla, Bijbehara (the same locality chief minister hails from). Locals said, Manzoor was killed in a fake encounter by Special Operations Group of police (SOG). His body was recovered from paddy fields in Mattan. Police however, claims he was killed in an ambush laid by them. Following his death, people took to streets and chanted strong slogans against the government and SOG. They later marched towards the national highway and tried to block the traffic. A strong police contingent, however, prevented them from moving ahead. Police lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to lathi- charge to quell the mob. There was a complete strike in the town against the killing. The deceased was later buried in a local graveyard and a large number of people joined his funeral.

TEENAGE SISTERS SHOT AT
Accused of being Militant aides

Dec 22: Two teenage sisters were dragged and shot at by soldiers Sunday night in Poshker Budgam. The sisters are battling for life in SMHS hospital here, both having received multiple bullet injuries. Zahida 16 and Nuzhat 19 were dragged out of their house by hair and shot at. The troops were reportedly looking for a Hizbul- Mujahideen militant Hameed Sheikh whom the family denies any knowledge. The incident has led to wide spread condemnation.

PROTEST OVER KILLING OF WOMAN IN PULWAMA ENCOUNTER

Dec 30: The residents of Aarihal Pulwama today staged protest against the alleged atrocities of troops and killing of a woman. Troops reportedly destroyed a residential house during the encounter and brought the residents of the area out of their homes during night in sub zero temperature. They gutted down a house and also fired due to which a woman lost her life. The people of the area protested saying that the killing of the woman was unwarranted.

    Sources said the troops of 1 RR and personnel of Special Operation Group, on a tip off cordoned off the house of Abdul Rashid Dar s/o Ghulam Mohidin Dar, where the militants were reportedly hiding. This triggered off the long encounter. The troops forced the local residents to come out of the house during the night in sub zero temperature asking them to persuade the militants to surrender. Locals said they were harassed throughout the night.

    A woman Khadija wife of Abdul Gani Ganai, was critically injured in the firing which continued for the whole night on intervals. She was rushed to Soura Medical Institute where she succumbed to her injuries. Muhammad Ayoub Bhat, the SPO of local police station was also critically wounded. Troops also destroyed the house of Abdul Rashid Dar with mortar shells from which bodies of two-suspected militant were recovered. However, the dead persons are reported to be locals.

2 BROTHERS AMONG 5 ARRESTED IN PULWAMA, BUDGAM

Dec 3: Security forces allegedly arrested a man in Pulwama. According to reports from Harpora Pulwama, during a search operation, 5bn BSF, allegedly arrested Abdul Majid Bhat s/o Mohd Akbar. While in Budgam SOG personnel arrested two brothers, Abdul Majid Mir & Mohd Amin Mir sons of Abdul Rehman Mir r/o Sakin Bagroo Badgam.

3 BOYS SENTENCED

Dec 6: Srinagar; The chief Judicial magistrate Uri today sentenced three boys identified as Majid Afzal, Farhat Basheer and Ashiq Hussain for one month’s imprisonment. Police earlier had arrested them while trying to cross over the border to Pakistani side.

SURRENDERED MILITANT (SPO) INJURED IN POWERFUL BLAST AT BHADERWAH.

Bhaderwah. Dec 24: A Pak trained Hizbul- Mujaheeden militant who was active for over ten years and had surrendered before army eleven months back was critically injured in a powerful IED blast. The militants allegedly triggered the blast during a cricket match that was being played in Government Boy’s Higher Secondary School Bhaderwah.

    According to SHO Bhaderwah, Shoukat Hussain Malik, “Riaz Ahmad s/o Ghulam Nabi Mir r/o village Shiva Tehsil was inducted by the police as SPO and was working with 4RR after the surrender. Riaz Ahmad was on militant’s hit list and therefore was residing inside the army battalion head quarter along with his family.” Sources said that Riaz was on the batting crease when the IED planted under the pitch went off injuring him seriously. The tournament he was playing was held in memory of the late Rucher Kumar who was also killed by the militants in 1994. Sources said that the IED blast was aimed at killing the SPO and the detonation was so well planned that no other player or viewer was hurt.

    Immediately after the blast security forces reached the spot and cordoned off the whole area to track down the suspected militants but success eluded them. The said SPO was airlifted to GMC hospital Jammu where his condition is deteriorating.

    Meanwhile a partial bandh (strike) was given by BJP Mandal Pradhan, Manjeet Singh in protest against the incident. He criticized the government for not providing enough security to tournament in spite of repeated requests.

    In another incident, a dead body of a youth identified as Ram Raj who was also an SPO has been found. He had reportedly quit his job a couple of months back. His body was recovered from the side of a road in village Puneja. Police said that last night the SPO was going to his home to village Sungli in a tractor belonging to one Ajaz Ahmad Beig of Puneja when the driver of the truck had a row with him. Police said Ram Raj was run over by the tractor that caused his instant death. An FIR has been lodged in this connection, however the driver is absconding.
 

KILLINGS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

 

DATE	SOLDIERS	MILITANTS	CIVILIANS	OTHERS
Dec 1	-	2	1	1 released militant
Dec 2	2 (1 JCO)	3	-	-
Dec 3	1	7	2	1 ex-militant

 

 

 

Dec 4	-	2	-	-
Dec 5	-	6	2	1 pro-govt. militant
Dec 6	-	3	-	1 dead body traced
Dec 7	-	5	-	1 dead body recovered
Dec 8	2	-	-	1 VDC member
Dec 9	1	3	-	-
Dec 10	2 (police officers)	2	1	-
Dec 11	-	6	5	-
Dec 12	-	4	2	1 surrendered militant
Dec 13	2	7	3	1 ex-SPO
Dec 14	-	6	4	-
Dec 15	1	5	2	1 ex-militant
Dec 16	-	2	1	-
Dec 17	-	2	2	-
Dec 18	2	1	-	-
Dec 19	1	2	-	-
Dec 20	1	2	-	1 pro-govt. militant
Dec 21	-	7	3	1 VDC & 1 political activist
Dec 22	-	7	2	-
Dec 23	1	3	1	-
Dec 24	1	5	-	-
Dec 25	1	2	-	-
Dec 26	-	3	2	-
Dec 27	1	1	1	-
Dec 28	1	1	1	-
Dec 29	-	2	3	-
Dec 30	3	5	-	-
Dec 31	-	3	-	-
TOTAL	23 (2 Officers)	109	38	12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATE	EXTRA JUDICIAL EXECUTIONS & CUSTODIAL KILLINGS	WOMEN KILLED	CHILDREN KILLED	ALLEGED DISAPPEARANCES
Dec 1	-	-	1	-
Dec 3	-	1		1
Dec 5	1	-	-	1
Dec 6	-	-	-	1
Dec 11	-	1	-	-
Dec 13	-	-	1	-
Dec 14	2	-	-	-
Dec 15	-	1	-	-
Dec 17	1	-	-	-
Dec 21	-	1	-	-
Dec 22	1	1	-	-
Dec 26	-	1	-	-
Dec 29	2	1
TOTAL	7	7	2	3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOMEN – CHILDREN KILLED
 

December 1: A minor girl was allegedly shot dead by security forces at Zangal-Kulgam while she was coming out of her house for some work. However, the defence spokesman claimed the killing of girl in cross fire between militants and troops. The deceased has been identified as Naseema daughter of Abdul Aziz Bhat of Zungalpora, Kulgam.
Dec 3: Farida wife of Bashir Ahmad was killed when holed up militants and security forces exchanged fire at Kasloo village at Handwara tehsil of district Kupwara.
Dec13: A minor succumbed to his grenade injuries received on Dec 10 at General bus stand Poonch. The deceased has been identified Mohammad Yousuf son of Faiz Mohammad resident of Bandi Chichian, Poonch.
Dec 15: A woman was allegedly killed by the troops when she intervened while the troops tried to pick up her husband at Thanamandi, Rajouri. Her killing sparked protest in entire Thanamadi area. The deceased has been identified as Naseem Akthar w/o Gulzar Hussain r/o Uper Pangai, Rajouri.
Dec 21: Unknown gunmen allegedly killed a woman along with her husband after they barged inside their residential house at Darakchi, Tangmarg in Baramulla district. The deceased have been identified as Sharifa and her husband Ghulam Rasool Lone.
Dec 22: Unidentified gunmen killed a girl after forcing their entry inside the residential house of Ghulam Rasool War at Tarhama, Tangmarg in North Kashmir. The deceased has been identified as Kulsooma daughter of Ghulam Rasool War.
Dec 26: A woman was killed when militants allegedly detonated an IED to target a vehicle of troops at Singpora, Pattan, Baramulla in north Kashmir. The deceased has been identified as Shahzada,22, daughter of Ghulam Nabi of Singpora, Pattan. 
Dec 27: A woman Khadija w/o Abdul Gani Gania was allegedly injured in cross fire between militants and troops at Arihal Pulwama and subsequently succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. However, the locals alleged that following a tip of presence of militants army cordoned off the house of Abdul Rashid Dar son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar and resorted to unprovoked firing and subsequently destroyed the house with mortar shells, which resulted into the death of Khadija.

CHRONOLOGY OF Dec INCIDENTS

 Dec 1:  Two militants, a released militant and a girl were killed in separate incidents of violence across the               state.
Dec 2: Two soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and three militants were killed in              several incidents of bloodshed.
Dec 3: Seven militants, a former militant, a soldier and two civilians including a woman were killed in              different incidents of violence.
Dec 4: Two militants were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 5:  Six militants, a pro-govt. militant and two civilians were killed in different incidents of bloodshed.
Dec 6: Three militants were killed in different incidents of violence while a dead body was recovered              from Kupwara district in north Kashmir.
Dec 7:  Five militants were killed in incidents of violence while a dead body was recovered from                            Bandipora forests.
Dec 8:  Four soldiers were injured in different incidents of violence, while, a Village defence committee
             member commits suicide and a soldier killed two of his colleagues after a tiff with them.
Dec 9:  Three militants and a soldier were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 10: Two police officers, two militants and a civilian were killed in different incidents of violence
              across the state. 
Dec 11: Six militants and five civilians including a woman were killed in separate incidents of violence.
Dec 12: Four militants, two civilians and a surrender militant were killed in separate incidents of violence. Dec 13: Seven militants, a former SPO, two soldiers and two civilians were killed in incidents of violence,                meanwhile, a child who received grenade injuries on Dec 10, died in hospital.
Dec 14: Six militants and two civilians were killed in separate incidents of violence while two civilians                were shot dead by the security forces in Srinagar.
Dec 15: Five militants, one army man, an ex-militant and two civilians were killed in separate incidents of                violence.  
Dec 16:Two militants and a civilian were killed in different incidents of violence in separate incidents of               violence.
Dec 17:Two militants and a civilian were killed in different incidents of violence while a civilian was               allegedly killed by security forces in custody at Bijbehara in Pulwama district.
Dec 18:Two policemen and a militant were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 19:Two militants and a soldier were killed in various incidents of violence.
Dec 20:Two militants, soldier and a pro-government militant were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 21: Seven militants, a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member, a People’s Democratic Party                (PDP) activist and three civilians including a woman died in different incidents of violence.
Dec 22: Seven militants and two civilians including a girl died in different incidents of violence.
Dec 23: A soldier, three militants and a civilian were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 24: Five militants and a soldier died in different incidents of violence.
Dec 25: Two militants and a Special Police Officer was killed in separate incidents of violence.   
Dec 26: Three militants and two civilians were killed in separate incidents of violence.
Dec 27: A soldier, militant and a civilian were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 28: One soldier, a militant and a civilian were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 29: Two militants and three civilians were killed in different incidents of violence.
Dec 30: Five militants and three soldiers were killed in different incidents of violence across the state.
Dec 31: Three militants were killed in separate of violence.

The Informative Missive
Published by
 PUBLIC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The Bund Amira Kadal, Jammu and Kashmir

Phone: - 91-194-2482820       
Fax: 91-194-2478464    
E-Mail: p_imroz@yahoo.co.in
Web: www.jkccs.org

website designed by Shoeab Afra
e-mail: shoeab_afra@yahoo.co.in