The Informative Missive
Published by
PUBLIC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTSFebruary 2003
Editorial: ...Another Betrayal
At the beginning of the 90’s the human rights had become a major issue in Kashmir and all sections of the Kashmiri society including the top rank government employees had got involved in the human rights issue. They had sent a memorandum to the United Nations for the humanitarian intervention in Kashmir. Amnesty International had become the household name. The professionals like doctors, lawyers, social activists, bureaucrats and retired judges constituted even district and tehsil level committees. Irritated by the massive involvement of elite, the Hurriyat leaders had taunted that Kashmir issue has been reduced to a human rights issue.
The Institute of Kashmir Studies, (IKS) was founded in the year 1992. The IKS emerged as an organized institute and according to its commitment it was to provide intellectual impetus, assist and coordinate research on issues and problems relevant to Kashmir, also to conduct research activities in other disciplines of the Kashmiri society. Nevertheless, IKS had many objectives but most of its activities remained confined to the human rights documentation. The human rights division of the IKS, under the name and style of Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Awareness and Documentation Centre (J&K HRADC), undertook studies on human rights, to highlight the human rights violations perpetrated on the people of J&K.
IKS published almost 40 publications mostly relating to the human rights violations. The information by IKS was disseminated to more than 400 organisations in India and Internationally. Since the IKS office bearers were also affiliated with the right wing political party, therefore most of the critics were of the view that the reports carried out by the IKS are politically motivated, meant for propaganda. There was also criticism about the quality of the report, that the reports were exaggerated, embroiled, embellished. Notwithstanding, the shortcomings, the IKS had assiduously prepared the reports, sometimes at the risk of the lives of IKS activists, particularly when the law enforcing agencies after mid 90’s was targeting the activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami selectively. There was large-scale migration of the Jamaat activists to the city.
After the detention of its chairman in November 2002,who was detained under Public safety act, the President of Jamaat-e-Islami took over the responsibility of IKS. Soon after the detention of its Chairman, the President of Jamaat suspended the activities of IKS.
What was shocking was that the publications, which IKS had published since its inception was destroyed. It is reported that thousands of copies were burnt in the premises of the Jamaat office and the remaining lot was buried at the Nowgam office of one of the trusts of Jamaat. It was believed that this decision was taken by one person and without the approval of the executive body of the IKS, including those who had burnt mid night oil while preparing these reports and had braved all the risks.
Never in the history of any human rights organizations is such instance found where the documentation has been destroyed voluntarily. We have history of human rights defenders getting killed, governments sealing the offices and destroying the human rights documentation. But this incident is an isolated incident. One fails to understand what were the compelling reasons behind such act. Was it because of the security threat or policy of appeasement. The people behind it owe an explanation to the victims of the human rights violations as the documentation of the human rights violations is the part of the history which belongs to posterity and no one has right to obliterate the history. It is a shame, which should be condemned by all the human rights organizations including the historians. This incident gives credence to the fact that the politically oriented human rights organizations often compromise.
FATHER CRIES FOR JUSTICE
Feb 28: A peasant, Abdul Rehman Dar from Dangarpora Tehsil Beerwah district Budgam fled his village for safety of his daughters and approached the office of Public Commission on Human Rights (PCHR) along with his daughters for help. Abdul Rehman is a father of five children including three daughters and two sons. In October 2002, government-sponsored militants (renegades) kidnapped his daughters. His younger daughter was set free after few days but the elder one was kept in captivity for three months, after which she managed to escape somehow.
The continuous threats from the renegades forced Dar to flee his village along with his two daughters. He left his wife and three children back in the village but apprehends that the renegades might harass his family or destroy the property.
According to Abdul Rehman Dar, “A dreaded group of six to seven renegades from a nearby village known as Rayar, nearly 2 km away from our village, working clandestinely for the 34 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) frequently used to visit our village and terrorize the villagers. They freely committed all sorts of crimes like extortions, killings, molestation etc.
More than four months back my daughters Shazada, aged 18, and Shameema, 16, were abducted by this group while they were returning from a marriage party of one of our relatives from Mutsin, Magam nearly 1 and half km away from our village. The renegades kept my elder daughter in captivity for three months and forged false documents of her marriage with Maqbool Mir, who is 40 years old, already married, having three children. All this happened on his directions as he intends to marry my elder daughter. He threatened me of dire consequences, incase I dare to defy him. He will kill me, as he has no problems in killing anybody since he has already killed one of his cousins”.
Shazada who was in captivity of renegades for three months had this to say, “Maqbool Mir used to visit our home frequently and forced me to marry him, which I opposed as he is already married and more than double my age. He kidnapped my sister and me while we were coming back from a marriage party.
After three days he called on my father and threatened him of horrible consequences if he reported our abduction to the police and he set my sister free on the same day. After my abduction, I spent three months with him and he had already made the pseudo marriage documents.
During this period, he took me to nearby forests, and threatened the shepherds to keep me in their Dhokas (slums) or face consequences. Whenever, he visited his home, he engaged his men to keep vigil on me so that I couldn’t escape. He intimidated me that he will not set me free until I agreed to marry him. Fed up by roaming in the forests he finally took me to his home where his wife behaved badly with me and used obnoxious language, which frustrated me, more. She forced me to do household work and she did nothing except look after her children. One day, I got an opportunity to escape and I fled from his captivity.
Later on, in the evening he sent few people of the village to convince me for the marriage, which I categorically refused.On the evening of 23rd February, Maqbool Mir along with his two comrades namely, Bashir Mir and Nazir Deenda (the head of the group) barged inside our home and asked about our decision. My father told them that he needed time to think over it. The incessant intimidation from the group forced us to flee the village and finally my father decided to leave the village and since than we are shifting from one place to another.”
TRAGIC TALES OF RELATIVES OF ‘DESAPARECIDOS’
Enforced disappearance a phenomenon that has left many questions unanswered and many puzzles unsolved. The dear ones of the desaparecidos always wonder why did it happen to them and live the life of uncertainty with waves of fear and hope passing by. With their journey of search leading them to unknown destination, they wonder whether the path they treaded was right. In these moments of uncertainty they wonder whom to blame and whom to trust. And the puzzle is never solved.
And who would know it better than Khateeja, a resident of Magam, Handwara, in south Kashmir. She is a worried and confused lady. Her son disappeared mysteriously in the year 2000. Who the abductors were? And why they abducted her son, Khateeja fails to understand. Her husband a shepherd, has not been keeping well in the recent years, which forced her to work for the sustenance of her family.
* KHATEEJA RECALLS THE FATEFUL DAY
“ On 19th of April, year 2000 my son, Shams Goor, aged 19, a shepherd by profession, went to the forests for grazing his sheep and never returned back. His disappearance came as a shock for me, as he was not affiliated with militancy nor had any links with the security forces.
Later on, in the evening, one of Shams friends came to our house and said that from a long distance, he saw a group of persons taking Shams away, frightened by the scene, he rushed back to the village without knowing the fate of Shams.
He said, he could not say for sure who the abductors were but there was massive presence of army in the forests at the time of his abduction”.
Living in far-flung area, financially weak and illiterate, the family so far has neither lodged FIR nor filed any case in the court of law. Khateeja still wonders who could gain anything by her loss, but her queries remain unanswered.
* TALE OF ZOONA WHOSE LONE SON DISAPPEARED
Zoona w/o Ghulam Ahmad Wani, r/o Pahaldash, district Handwara had only one son who disappeared on 3rd March 2000. Her son was the only earning member of the family. Since his disappearance they have no source of income and are living in very pathetic conditions.
Zoona says, “My son Abdul Rashid was only 25 years old at the time of his disappearance. On that fateful day he went to Integrated Water Development Project (IWDP), Handwara where he worked, for collecting his salary and also for purchasing some clothes for his children as the Eid (Muslim festival), was only three or four days away, and since then we are waiting for his return.
My son has three children, eight years old son and two daughters; one is four and another two and half years old. His wife, Rafiqa, is frustrated due to the poverty and the shock of her husband’s disappearance.
In the evening few youth of our area informed us that some unidentified gunmen picked him up from Handwara. We filed an FIR in the police station Handwara and on the same day police came to our house and asked for further information but all in vain. After few days of disappearance of Abdul Rashid, a girl from Dootipora, who was his colleague found his watch from the forests of Dootipora.
Thereafter, I filed a petition in the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and visit the SHRC on the given dates by the commission but so far nothing has been done in our favour.
I visit local Mosques every Friday (during the special prayers) and collect some money from the people on which my family sustains for a week.”
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS *“MY HUSBAND WILL RETURN ONEDAY” AYESHA
Ayesha’s husband Bashir Ahmad Pir, 25, son of Abdul Gani Pir r/o Rajward-Satkoji-Dardhaji, district Handwara disappeared since 15th April 1992.
According to Ayesha’s Statement: “We were living a happy life, we had only one son who was only a year old at the time of his father’s disappearance. Today he is thirteen.
On April 15, 1992 as usual, Bashir Ahmad went to his field, and in the afternoon when I went there to serve him lunch, he was not there. I saw his nephew Abdul, who was working towards the other side of the field; I called him and asked about Bashir. Abdul told me that, an unidentified group of men wielding arms told Bashir to show them a village of the area known as Wilgam, Bashir accompanied them towards Wilgam and since then nothing has been known about his whereabouts.
Thereafter, I rushed toward to Wilgam where my sister is married, when I asked her about Bashir, she told me that she knew nothing, my husband had not been there. Depressed and dejected, I left, while returning back to my home, two unknown person met me and threatened me to maintain silence and not reveal anything in front of anybody. I failed to recognize them, as the people of the area were new to me. I don’t know who they were and how they knew about my condition.
I knew my husband since childhood as he was also my cousin and I am dead sure that he has no affiliation with any armed group. I preferred to marry him as we have no male member in our home except my ailing father who is bed ridden since longtime.
Being illiterate and ignorant, I did not know what to do and only after two years I visited the police station for filing an FIR, police refused to do so, on the pretext that they have “no proof about his dead body”.
We sustain on the grace of our relatives and neighbours, my son is studying in 5th class and his education expenses are bared by the Yateem Trust”.
* FATHER OF DISAPPEARED BOY RENDERED HANDICAPPED
Habibullah Malik, 60, resident of Saramarik Chuk, nearly 20 km away from Handwara (North Kashmir) lost the potency of his legs, eyesight became dim and is still suffering from pain as he was beaten up by the army eight years back. Habibullah’s son disappeared in the year 1993.
“I live in the acute poverty and have no other sources of income except to work on my ancestral land of 12 kanals (1.5 acre) out of which I sold 8 kanals (1 acre) for the marriage of my two daughters. I have four sons and four daughters. Three years back the army burnt my shed due to which my financial conditions deteriorated.
My elder son, Abdul Kabir Malik, 18, was studying in 11th class. On 21st of March 1993, he went to Kupwara for buying books as he had recently passed 10th Standard examinations, but never returned back.Because of the pressure from the army camped in the area, I have neither lodged FIR nor filed a case in the court of law.
In case, if the army comes to know that we have visited any place for filing case, we will incur their wrath”
MINE EXPLOSION CLAIMS SIX
Feb 20: Six persons were killed and three more wounded in an Improvise Explosive Device (IED) explosion in north Kashmir district of Baramulla. Militants and security forces blamed each other for triggering the blast.
Eyewitnesses said at around 11:05 a.m., a powerful explosion took place in the main market of Baramulla town killing four civilians instantly and injuring five others. Later two others succumbed to injuries in hospital.
The IED, witnesses said, had been planted under the snow on the roadside in front of a local bank. Though no group claimed responsibility for the blast, officials blamed the separatist guerillas.
However, Hizbul Mujahideen, (Militant Outfit), alleged that the IED had been planted by the Indian troopers “to malign the Mujahideen (holy warriors.)” The explosion was so powerful that parts of the victims’ bodies flung over a distance and were later collected before they were handed over to their families. A junior engineer, supervising the snow clearance work in the area was reported to be among the dead.
Shopkeepers had to remove the accumulated snow from the hospital road for the ambulance to come out, as the administration was conspicuous by its absence. The Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police were not available in the town and there was hardly any other official visiting the spot.
Locals said that the security forces on a daily basis closely watched the spot, where the explosion took place. The Road Opening Party (ROP) personnel equipped with metal detectors man the spot from morning till late in the afternoon daily. And how is it possible that the ROP men failed to detect the planted mine? The locals questioned.
TEENAGER RAPED AND KILLED BY SECURITY FORCES: MLA
Feb 24: In a shocking revelation made by the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Banihal constituency, accusing security forces of raping and killing a teenager girl in their custody in Nachala area of Jammu. He also blamed security forces of other human rights violations including disappearances.
The MLA alleged that security forces from Nachala camp picked up one Kulsum, 17, daughter of Ghulam Mohammad resident of Alla Kari and killed her after raping her in their custody. Later on, her bullet pumped body was recovered from a nearby forest.
Army claimed she was killed when she tried to make a bid to attack the camp, but the army version was challenged by the MLA on the logic that “how is it possible to attack a camp 7 km away especially when there is heavy snow fall”.
Security forces not only label the youth as militants but also disappeared a dozen villagers of the area, added MLA.
GIRL BEATEN UP BY BSF
Feb 24: Border Security Force (BSF) from 49th BN conducted a raid on the residential house of Ashiq Ahmad at Jogi Lanker area of Rainawari, Srinagar, and allegedly beat his sister in front of their officer and also ransacked the house.
When the inhabitants of the area came to know about the incident they took to the streets, blocked the traffic, raised anti B.S.F slogans and demand stern action against the culpable B.S.F personnel.
SECURITY FORCES BEAT CIVILIANS
Feb 25: Over a dozen residents of Dhand Kote area about 12 kms from Rajouri district were reportedly beaten up by the army when they refused to oblige them in constructing a path way.
In the early rush hours, when people were on their way to work, the army allegedly stopped them and forced them to construct a pathway. When the people refused to oblige them, the army thrashed any one who came in their way. Over a dozen civilians including women received injuries. The injured persons were referred to District Hospital for treatment.
Later on, people of the area protested against the army action and staged a Dharna (picketing) outside the Degree College Rajouri, where the District Commissioner of Rajouri was attending a function.
SERIES OF KILLING IN PULWAMA
Feb 25: The people of Panzgam, Pulwama (South Kashmir) today staged massive demonstrations to protest against the killing of a civilian by the Border Security Forces (B.S.F).
According to reports the troops of the B.S.F (118th Bn.) arrested 40 years old Ghulam Nabi Dar son of Abdul Sattar Dar a farmer by profession, yesterday and allegedly tortured him to death.
In another incident B.S.F personnel raided the house of Shahnawaz Ahmed Najar at Panzgam Pulwama at 6:00 pm and detained him. Eyewitness said that while Najar was being taken out from his house, the irate personnel allegedly caught hold of another person who was walking down the road where the B.S.F vehicle was parked. He has been identified as Mohammed Ashraf Dar. The witness added that B.S.F jawans also asked Dar to accompany them. Dar did not oblige and tried to move away but was allegedly fired upon by the security forces killing him on the spot. He is survived by four daughters and one son. The whereabouts of the two arrested are not known.
The residents accused the BSF personnel of harassing the common people. This is not the first time that such incident has happened, said a resident on the phone. The BSF personnel during the intervening night of February 22-23 raided the house of Mushtaq Ahmed Parray and allegedly thrashed the inmates and also abused the females during the raid.
The demonstrators raised pro-freedom slogans. Slogans against the B.S.F were also chanted. Later, the demonstrators took out a procession and demanded stern action be taken against the culprits. They carried the body of the victim along. The police and BSF intercepted the procession and tried to snatch the body from the people. Meanwhile, complete strike was observed in the area against the killing.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE TURNS INTO MYSTERIOUS DEATH
Feb 14: Mysterious disappearance followed by inexplicable death of a Youth from Shopian (South Kashmir) shook the whole area. The villagers had presumed the man already dead but were taken aback when some children reported detection of the dead body of the disappeared person.
In the year 1991, Mohammad Amin Pir resident of Momkak locality of Sopore suddenly went missing and after that nobody saw him in the area. Villagers gave different versions about his disappearance. Some said that he crossed to Pakistan Administrative Kashmir (PAK) for arms training and few believed that he was killed near Line of Actual Control (LoC).
The suspicion was silenced, when some children found the body of Mohammad Amin on the eve of Eid. While playing in the locality, they saw a gunny bag, out of which blood was oozing out. The children informed the villagers and the villagers informed the police and the body was recovered.
“Earlier we failed to identify the body but later we checked his pockets, out of which we found his identity card which helped us to identity him as Mohammad Amin Pir”, said a police official. It is pertinent to mention here that the body had fresh clothes and polished shoes. It was also established that a blow of some sharp weapon killed him, added the police official.
The villagers said that a day before Eid he sent a message to his family that he will celebrate the festival with them. The family was waiting keenly with this hope that their beloved will join them on Eid. Their hope was shattered when they learnt that the police had recovered his body.
The whole locality was shaken when they came to know about the mysterious death of Mohammad Amin after his mystifying disappearance. People of the area said nobody had any knowledge about his whereabouts but it might be possible that his family knew about his whereabouts during the period of his disappearance.
PROTEST OVER DISAPPEARANCE
A twenty five year old youth Muzaffer Iqbal s/o Mohammad Younis resident of Ghambir Muglan, Jammu was allegedly called by the S.H.O of Manjakote police station, on 16th of February 2003, and since then his whereabouts are not known. Police refused to divulge any information about his whereabouts allege Muzaffer’s parents.
Residents of Ghambir on 24th of February staged a dharna (picketing) outside the office of District Commissioner, Rajouri to protest against the disappearance of Muzaffer. On seeing the protestors the DC purportedly assured them that he will enquire into the matter and justice will be done.
ARREST OF TWO SISTERS SPARKS PROTEST
Feb 1: The joint posse of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (S.O.G) of police arrested two teenage girls in district Baramulla. The inhabitants resented the arrests, police resorted to cane charge followed by aerial firing.
At around 11:00 a.m. Army and S.O.G raided the house of Ghulam Qadir Gojri of Mir Sahib area of Baramulla and asked for him but he was not there as he had gone to Water Works Department for some work. This irked the posse and they ransacked the house and picked up his two daughters Shazia, aged 19, and Zahida, 17.
Their arrests were resented by hundreds of residents of the area; they took to the street and held demonstration. The inhabitants alleged that the family of Ghulam Qadir was frequently harassed on one or the other pretext as they lived close to the neighbouring army camp. The house was ransacked several times before the last raid. The residents said that Ghulam Qadir and his daughters were totally innocent and not remotely connected with any kind of militant activity. The demonstrators while marching towards the office of Deputy Commissioner raised slogans against the newly constituted government and demanded immediate release of girls. One of the woman demonstrator fainted. They met the senior Superintendent of Police and staged a dharna (picketing) outside the police station. Police resorted to cane charge and fired shots in air to disperse the demonstrators when they started pelting stones.
The R.R. spokesman said that they received some complaints about Ghulam Qadir and they were looking for him. Later on, both the girls were released in the afternoon.
KIDNAPPED CIVILIANS KILLED
Feb 12: Unidentified gunmen kidnapped and later killed three civilians in Gool area of Udhampur district.
A group of unidentified gunmen kidnapped three civilians in Dharam village under the jurisdiction of police station Gool late in the evening. All the three were taken to a nearby school and murdered in cold blood by the abductors.
The slain men were identified as Mohammad Shafi son of Sultan Malik, Farid Ahmad son of Abdul Rashid and Abdul Rashid son of Jamal Din.
DODA DIARY
* CIVILIAN KILLED
Feb 12: Rashtriya Rifles (RR) allegedly killed a civilian without any provocation in Rambhan Tehsil of Doda district, which sparked protest demonstration in the area.
A villager Ishmael son of Ghulam Mohammad Gujjar was shot dead by the troops of 23 R.R. in Dharam Kund area of Rambhan. People of the area resorted to demonstration against the unjustified killing.
* GIRL SHOT DEAD
Feb 18: A Santry (guard) of army allegedly shot dead a girl at Halla, Banihal and claimed that she was militant associate, but people of the area said that she was an innocent civilian. Kulsoom Akthar, 18, daughter of Ghulam Nabi of village Halla, Banihal was shot dead by the army and allegedly tried to label her as a militant companion. The troops called her parents to collect the dead body of their daughter and pressurized them not to file FIR against the culpable army personnel.
EXCESS OF EVERYTHING IS BAD
POLICE ATROCITIES DRIVE PEOPLE TO REVOLT
Feb 14: Massive demonstration was held by the residents of Kathua against the alleged excesses by police and paramilitary forces deployed in the area. More than a dozen people including five police personnel received injuries.
Tired of being mute spectators to their own agonies, the inhabitants of Loang area of Bani Tehsil of Kathua resorted to demonstration against the alleged atrocities of the police and paramilitary forces set up in the area. Police and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) had been conducting regular searches in the upper reaches of Loang for last one week. The villagers alleged that during searches the forces harassed the innocents unnecessarily.
The harassment forced the people to protest against these police and paramilitary atrocities. Police said people resorted to stone pelting and also smashed the wireless radar system located in the area, which made them to swing into action and cane charge the mob.
However, the protestors alleged that they pelted stones only when they were beaten and when the police fired shots in the air.
In the battle between police and civilians, which continued for more than an hour, seven civilians and five policemen received injuries.
The Deputy Speaker Ghulam Haider Malik who has been elected to State Assembly from Bani constituency also joined the demonstration and demanded stern action against the police excesses.
SHOPKEEPER KILLED IN CUSTODY
Feb 4: The whole Kupwara was shocked when the news of custodial killing of a shopkeeper of the area spread. A massive demonstration was held against this alleged unwarranted, and unjustified killing.
Two persons were allegedly arrested by the troops of 30th Bn. Rashtriya Rifles (RR) during a search and cordon operation conducted in Sharhama village in Mawar area of Kupwara district. The arrestees were identified as Shabir Ahmad, 25, a shopkeeper by profession and Habibullah Kumar, 50, son of Fatha. The duo was allegedly tortured profusely in the custody due to which Shabir died. Later Shabir’s body was handed over to his family and Habibullah was released in a morbid condition.
Soon after the news of Shabir’s killing spread in the area thousands of villagers took to the street, held demonstration against ‘the barbaric killing’ at the hands of army. The demonstrators carried Shabir’s body and marched to the sub-divisional headquarters and raised slogans against the army and government. The Deputy Commissioner and SSP rushed towards the spot and pacified the demonstrators by assuring them of an enquiry into this matter. The DC while talking to the local Newspaper said that the villagers about 50,000 in number were carrying the body of Shabir and the body bored several torture marks. He added that the people also accused troops of atrocities and forced labour. He had also ordered the police to file a case under the law.
Meanwhile, spokesman of the accused army said that Shabir was an upper ground militant of Hizbul Mujahideen and had been released after questioning in front of his relatives and village elders. Based on this factor, the troops are also carrying on an enquiry into the death.
YOUTH TORTURED
Feb 25: A youth was reportedly arrested and released after torture by Border Security Forces (BSF) in the custody. A youth identified as Shahid Ahmad Dar was picked up by the BSF from Saria Bala, Lal Chowk, Srinagar, and took him to some unknown destination where he was tortured ruthlessly. Later on, he was released in morbid condition.
The torture of Shahid was protested by the inhabitants of his area and demanded the stern action against the personnel involved in this inhuman practice.
VILLAGERS’ PROTEST AGAINST ARMY ATROCITIES
Feb 14: On the eve of Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha, people in a village in southern district of Anantnag held demonstrations against the army accusing them of meddling into their religious affairs.
Reports said an Army party led by a Major entered the village Pooru in Kokernag area and allegedly asked the villagers not to offer the sacrifice of animals-an essential part of the Eid festival. The troops, reports said, thrashed the Muslim men who had offered the sacrifices before their visit. In the army action more than a dozen villagers received injuries.
The army action irked the people and their religious sentiments were hurt. People of the area took to the streets and held demonstration against the army action; they blocked the road and stopped the traffic. They demanded immediate action against the party.
THE NUMBERS DON’T ADD UPFOLLOWING ARE THE EXCERPTS FROM AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE ASIAN AGE ON AUGUST 5, 2002
On January 31, 1968, the North Vietnamese Army and the Vietcong launched simultaneous attack in over one hundred towns and major villages and astounded the world with the sheer daring and ferocity of the offensive. Since it coincided with the Tet festival, the assault came to be called Tet offensive. The US repulsed Tet offensive with a might show of military power, but it is now agreed by military historians that it was the war’s turning point and that it effectively lost the war then on.
Divid Halerstam in his book, The Best and the Brightest tells us of a meeting in the White House shortly after the Tet offensive. In this, Gen. William Westmoreland was listing out the casualties taken by the Vietnamese during Tet and telling his superiors of the great victory won on the battlefields of Vietnam, prefacing a request for more troops to finish the war by Christmas. At that point US had 542,000 troops deployed in that small country. AS Clark Clifford soon to be the new defense secretary sat toting up all previous enemy casualty figures, he arrived at an astounding total of nearing a million killed and incapacitated. He then posed the question which went something like this: “If you have killed that many communist troops then you have already killed several times their official strength. Then who are you fighting with?” Halerstam records that at that time, President Lyndon Johnson realized that generals had taken him for a ride and decided that the US must get out of Vietnam as soon as possible. It still took them another six years to get out with the last American desperately clinging on the skids of a Huey helicopter as Gen. Van Tien Dung’s victorious North Vietnamese Army columns swept into Saigon.
It would seem that in every prolonged conflict and inconclusive conflict there comes a time when the numbers just stop adding up. Then it is time to do rethink. Here are the official numbers for the Kashmir Conflict since 1988. There have been 47, 234 incidents with 3,278 in just the last year. It is claimed that 15, 247 militants were killed of which 3,099 were foreigners. The number of so-called foreigners killed has dramatically risen in the past two years accounting for 1,902 of those killed. This is in line with the officials view that the insurgency in now almost entirely a foreign waged war…. Since 1988, 11,377 civilians have also died and as the American would say, are collateral losses… 4,102 troopers including jawans and officers have been killed… Battlefield causalities in 2001 have been highest at 4,499 for all combatants and civilians. The maximum number of militants-2, 850 - were killed in 2001, a year in which 1,067 civilians and 582 security personnel also died. Since 1999 the security forces have lost 1,772 men and this does not include Kargil losses. The annual forces losses have crossed the 500 mark during this period with the kill to loss ratio touching new levels. India has over 500,000 troops of varied hues and colors deployed in J&K.
Now here is another clutch of figures to boggle our minds. Since 1990, the armed forces have seized 23,387 AK-47, 56 and 74 rifles; 989 universal machine guns; 878 carbines; 9,181 pistols and revolvers; 878 rocket propelled grenade launchers; 135 light and medium machine guns; 326 sniper rifles; and 3,337 rocket launchers. Almost two full Indian infantry divisions can be equipped with these captured weapons. It also means that since the weapons were recovered by mostly either killing pr apprehending the militants, and after providing one weapon per militant-only Rambo walks around with full arsenal-that security forces have also apprehend over 21,000 militants. Since 1991 the estimates of the number of militants operating or lying in wait in Pakistan Administered Kashmir has seldom exceeded 3000. Since over 35,000 have either been killed or arrested, we must then also ask question as to who India is fighting.
WOMEN-CHILDREN KILLED
Feb 6: Security forces allegedly shot dead an elderly woman in the main Handwara Chowk. The identification of deceased women was not established.
Feb 18: A Santry of army allegedly shot dead a girl at Halla Banihal and claimed that she was militant associate, but people of the area said that she was an innocent civilian. Kulsoom Akthar, 18, daughter of Ghulam Nabi of village Halla, Banihal was shot dead by the army and allegedly tried to label her as a militant companion
Date
Extra Judicial Executions
Women Killed
Children Killed
Reported Disappearances
Feb 4
1
-
-
-
Feb 6
-
1
-
-
Feb 13
-
-
-
2
Feb 16
-
-
-
1
Feb 17
-
-
1
-
Feb 25
1
-
-
-
Feb
-
-
-
1
Total
2
1
1
4
KILLING IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
DATE
SOLDIERS
MILITANTS
CIVILIANS
OTHERS
Feb 1
1
10
1
-
Feb 2
1 Officer
4
-
-
Feb 3
-
6
-
-
Feb 4
1
7
3
-
Feb 5
-
6
1
-
Feb 6
-
13
2
-
Feb 7
1
6
2
-
Feb 8
1
2
-
1 Renegade
Feb 9
-
4
1
-
Feb 10
-
1
-
-
Feb 11
1
4
-
-
Feb 12
2 (1SPO)
13
4
-
Feb 13
-
-
-
-
Feb 14
-
-
-
-
Feb 15
1
13
2
-
Feb 16
1
3
1
-
Feb 17
1 Inspector
-
1
-
Feb 18
-
-
-
-
Feb 19
-
2
-
-
Feb 20
-
2
6
-
Feb 21
2
4
1
-
Feb 22
-
4
2
1
5
2
-
Feb 24
-
2
1
1 political activist
Feb 25
-
4
5
-
Feb 26
1 SPO
1
-
-
Feb 27
-
-
-
-
Feb 28
-
1
1
-
Total
15 (4 officers)
117
36
2
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
Feb 1: Ten militants, army jawan and a civilian were killed in various violence related incidents across
the state.
Feb 2: Assistant Commander of BSF and four militants were killed while as several persons received
injuries in different violence related incidents in the state.
Feb 3: Six militants were killed while as 13 persons were injured in various violence related incidents
across the state.
Feb 4: Seven militants, a soldier and two civilians were killed in separate violence related incidents
across the state.
Feb 5: Six militants and a civilian were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 6: Thirteen militants and two civilians including an alleged insane woman died in various
violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 7: Six militants, a soldier and two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents across
the state.
Feb 8: A soldier, two militants and a pro govt. militant were killed in separate violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 9: Four militants and a civilian died in separate violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 10: Militant was killed in violence related incident in the state.
Feb 11: Four militants and a policeman died in various violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 12: Three militants, a Special Police Officer, soldier and four civilians lost their lives
in various violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 13: Two persons sustained critical injuries in two separate blast incidents across the state.
Feb 14: Two persons received injuries in violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 15: Three militants, soldier and two civilians died in various violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 16:Three militants, soldier and an associate of one MLA were killed while as three cops and
army men sustained injuries in various violence related incident across the state.
Feb 17: One Sub Inspector of ITBP and a girl were killed in various violence related incidents across
the state while as a bullet pumped body of a youth was recovered from Pulwama district.
Feb 18: Incident free
Feb 19: Two militants were killed in violence related incident across the state.
Feb 20: Two militants were killed in violence related incidents across the state.
* : Six civilians were killed and three other injured critically in a land mine blast at
the border town of Baramulla district.
Feb 21: Four militants, two soldiers and a civilian were killed in various violence related incidents
across the state.
Feb 22: Four militants, security forces informer and a civilian were killed in various violence related
incidents across the state.
Feb 23: Five militants, a Village Defence Committee member, and two civilians were killed
in various violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 24: Two militants, a political activist of National Congress and a civilian were killed in
various violence related incident across the stat.
Feb 25: Four militants and five civilians were killed in various violence related incidents
across the state.
Feb 26: Special Police Officer and a civilian died in violence related incidents across the state.
Feb 27: Incident free.
Feb 28: One militant and a civilian were killed in various violence related incidents across
the state while as police and BSF recovered two dead from two different places.
The Informative Missive
Published by
PUBLIC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The Bund Amira Kadal, Jammu and KashmirPhone: - 91-194-2482820
Fax: 91-194-2478464
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