The Informative Missive
Published by
PUBLIC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
January 2003
Editorial: Kashmiris Ostracized
Amidst unprecedented security arrangements in New Delhi this year Republic Day was celebrated. Never before in the history of India such a massive deployment of the security forces, police personnel were pressed into service to prevent the militant strike. Since 13th December 2001, Parliamentary attack, the government doesn’t want to take chances on the security arrangements. The arrangements were through out India particularly in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Since the conflict started in Jammu and Kashmir every year on the eve of the Indian Republic Day or Independence Day people from Kashmir avoid traveling outside particularly to Delhi, the capital of India because of the harassment meted out to them by the police. Kashmiris are being treated as suspects and particularly after the Parliament attack the Kashmiris have become defensive, vulnerable and untouchables in the different parts of the India. The large-scale Kashmiri Diaspora in different states of India becomes apprehensive on the eve of Republic Day or Independence Day of India. The parents of the students studying in different parts of India get perturbed about the welfare of their children and so does the business community who, travel to different parts of country for business transactions.
The security arrangements are the legitimate function of the state for the safety of their citizens and in order to avert any terrorist activity, which no sovereign country can allow. But the harassment at the administrative level demonstrates the implicit policy of the state. Few years’ back the Delhi administration had issued written instructions to the hoteliers for not renting out rooms to Kashmiris. When the press highlighted the illegal administration order the government denied issuing such orders. There are still informal directives for discouraging and disallowing Kashmiris the rented premises at Delhi. The hotelier and even the landlords have been informally instructed not to let Kashmiris. When the Editor happened to stay in a hotel at Pahar Gunj, New Delhi before couple of days of Republic day while on his way to Manila to attend a training programme the police conducted a search, though the editor was interrogated but was not treated in an indecent manner for being a practicing lawyer. But the manager of the hotel was rebuked for not avoiding the Editor in his hotel. There were clear instructions to hoteliers that no Kashmiri, Assamese and Nepali should stay in their hotels.
Besides, the official level the harassment is also at the social level with the rise of the Hinduvata ideology, which still on ascendancy and the process of saffronisation of the institutions particularly, the media, police and army coming under its influence. Every Kashmiri is viewed with suspicion and portrayed as militant and the burden of proof lies with him to prove that he is not related with militancy.
The fascist Hindu nationalists are making the organized anti-Kashmiri campaign and the students are special target group. The considerable number of students have left their courses because of threatens and intimidations in different universities and returned back to Kashmir.
Even in Kashmir, the security forces in the remote towns forced the people particularly the shopkeepers, and vehicle drivers to wave the tri colour. The authorities’ inefficiency-cum-ineffectiveness regarding security on the particular occasions further alienates the people. The security is an important issue and in many countries the authorities have developed a methodology to maintain strict security with annoyance to minimum section of the people. The authorities can draw lessons from that otherwise it only deepens the belief that Kashmiris are demonized, ostracized and subjected to collective punishment and the message goes “you have to pay for what you want”.
HARASSMENT OF KASHMIRIS OUTSIDE KASHMIR
The eruption of militancy and subsequent ruthless methods used by the Indian army and Para-military to crush it, brought sea changes among the people here, especially in the middle class. The people, who till other day were possessive about their children, forced their loved ones to move to far off places in order to pursue higher studies but security to life was always the main concern.
And, within two years it became a rage in Kashmir and soon every parent was keen to see his ward in the colleges outside the state or country.
However, this trend did not prove very trendy and soon the repercussions were obvious. Kashmiris were always looked with suspicion wherever they went they were harassed, arrested, and some even disappeared in custody and while others were killed in fake encounters. Passports were impounded, cases were lodged and people of this vale were subjected to every kind of torture and abuse.
Students, seeking education in various states say that they are being insulted and humiliated by the police. “We are often called to police station. Our hostel rooms are searched. We are chased and harassed because we are Kashmiris,” said a student of an engineering college in Maharastra. Bilal Ahmad Zargar, Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani and Basit Ali of South Kashmir district of Anantnag are students of Allahabad Agriculture University. On March 19, in Jammu, when they were on their way to Allahabad, they had to face worst. At Jammu bus stand, the threesomes were asked by cops to display their I-cards. After displaying their cards, cops took them to police station Nowabad, where they were locked till morning.
The discrimination is not confined to campuses, roads, passenger vehicles but even at airports, Kashmiris are being maltreated. In Delhi, apparently fearing retribution from police, majority of local hoteliers simply refuse to provide accommodation to the Kashmiris. And, if an hotelier consents a room to a Kashmiri, he is forced to give detailed information about his visit, background, purpose of visit and other such things. “The purpose is only to humiliate one,” said a trader, adding this is share humiliation, which they come across every day, hour and minute and now they are used to it.
Now, government has impounded the passport of prominent Hurriyat leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s as he was going to participate in anti-national activities. It is not only Hurriyat conference leaders, whose passports are impounded, professionals like doctors and engineers are also not spared. Even getting a passport in Kashmir was considered as dreaded business. A thorough investigation is conducted by intelligence and other investigation agencies operating in valley and it is only after their green signal, passport is issued. To secure the passport it may take year or two and some time one has to wait for eternity to get it.
Suhail Saqib s/o Dr Abdul Aziz Fashoo of Bagh-I-Mahtab got admission in B.E (chemical engineering) in college of Engineering and Technology, Jalgaon, Maharastra in August 1998 and completed his degree in June 2002.
On February 2, 2001, Suhail, vide application No 29333 and file No A-00786 (Bnd) applied for passport, Knowing it well that getting passport in Kashmir was a time consuming process, Suhail waited for the passport, presuming that after fulfilling all formalities, passport would come one day. But that did not happen even after two years. One day, he received a job offer from an overseas firm. He went to passport office to know fate of his passport. However, they exhibited callous attitude and told him that his passport has not arrived because intelligence agencies have written adverse report against him. Neither he told what this “adverse report” is all about nor was informed which intelligence agency has reported it. Thus, Suhail lost a golden opportunity to make his career. Suhail is not an exception cases like his are innumerable. He represents a generation, which is looked with suspicion by the very people who call them their citizens and claim to strive for their being.
But then who is complaining? When a police officer having a rank of SP was humiliated and insulted by Delhi police, imagine what the treatment meted out to the ordinary Kashmiri will be and until the Delhi police came to know and believe he was SP the damage had been done. He had been striped of his honour and that is the price one has to pay for being a Kashmiri. What say?
IFTIKHAR GEELANI RELEASED
The release of Kashmiri journalist, Iftikhar Geelani on January 13, 2003, six months after his detention, speaks volumes about rights of expression guaranteed under the Indian constitution. Geelani, who is son in law of senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was arrested by Delhi police for possessing classified documents and was charged under the officials secrets act.
However, on Friday January 13, 2003, the federal government informed a Delhi court that it was withdrawing all cases against Geelani after the militarily intelligence confirmed that the documents found in his computer were not classified.
The documents, which government earlier claimed were classified, was an article published in a respected Pakistani newspaper Dawn.
The government told the court of-course after six months of Geelani's incarceration that the documents on Geelani's computer had already been published and were easily available on the Internet.
SC CONVICTS THREE ACCUSED IN HN WANCHOO CASE FOR
‘LIFE IMPRISONMENT’
The Supreme Court convicted three accused, who were described as Jamait-ul-Mujahideen militants for life imprisonment for killing human rights activist H.N. Wanchoo. The accused were earlier evicted by a Jammu TADA court from the charges of killing a human rights activist H.N. Wanchoo in 1992. A division bench comprising justice S.N. Varia and Justice B.N Aggarwal took an opposite view on the admissibility of the evidence in the case based solely on the confessional statements of the three militants recorded under section 15 of TADA.
The threesomes sentenced to life imprisonment are Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, Shafiq Khan and Ghulam Qadir. Back in 1992, unidentified gunmen kidnapped Wanchoo from his residence in Srinagar then he was taken few kilometers away and was shot dead. The CBI charge-sheeted 12 persons, of whom four died and five other were declared absconding. The designated TADA court at Jammu acquitted the other three. The TADA court had rejected the evidence on four counts. First, the concerned police officials did not ask the accused whether they were making the confessional statements voluntarily.
Secondly, the CBI, SP did not tell the accused that the confessional statements could be used against them as evidence. Thirdly, the statements were recorded in Hindi, which was not the official language of the court, and lastly the SP did not ask the accused whether they wanted to add or delete anything from their confessional statements.
After going through confessional statements of three accused, the Supreme Court was of the opinion that all the procedures, which the TADA court thought were not followed, were actually scrupulously followed.
"We are therefore unable to accept the reasoning of the designated court that the confessional statements are not in conformity with the provisions of the law" the division bench said, adding that the designated court was wrong in all four counts on which it had rejected the evidence.
Justice Variava, writing for the bench said, "in the confessional statements each of the respondents admits that they were part of the organizations and that they had taken part in the conspiracy to eliminate HN Wanchoo. Referring to role of Ghulam Qadir, the bench said, "he had actually participated in the kidnapping of Wanchoo and had given orders in writing that Wanchoo be killed. Therefore, the offence under section 3 of the TADA act as well as under section 302 read with 120b of IPC is made out."
Despite repeated pleas from the counsel of the accused to grant them mercy, the court said, "in our view, having seen the activities which had been carried on by respondents and that they had conspired and murdered Wanchoo, this is fit case where the sentence should be life imprisonment"
TRAGIC FAMILIES:
IN THE FACE OF DEATH, I HAVE TO LIVE
The deep lines on her face reflect the pain and agony that the soul has been through. Deeper the line, greater the depth of suffering. Eyes have a story of their own, tears never cease to flow from them and ears are oblivious to the voices around for their hearing power has slowly diminished. This is Bhakti, a 60-year-old widow from Magam Handwara of south Kashmir.
Bhakti’s tale is tale of having loved and lost. Once a proud mother of two sons and today grieving for them. The Journey of her suffering starts from the time when her younger son disappeared. She cannot recall the exact year, but says during the early onset of militancy, perhaps in the year 1990, the incident took place. Her son Farooq Ahmad who was 12 years old at that time left his home never to return again, and not by choice. Farooq left home as usual to spend time with his friends, but did not return back as usual. Anxious, his family started to look for him and to this day the search continues. All efforts proved futile, for Farooq was never seen again. The villagers allege that it was the Handiwork of security forces recruited in this area. This area being close to border is heavily infested with army.
Bhakti’s ordeal had just begun. Soon after her elder son, Latif Ahmad died in exchange of fire between militants and security forces. Latif was a carpet weaver and with his meager income supported his family, which comprised mother, wife and his two children. He left for his work as usual, and was trapped in a battle going on between the militants and security forces. He was critically injured in the shoot out, the passerby rushed him to SKIMS hospital, Srinagar but the injuries were grave and he had lost lot of blood. In spite of a blood transfusion, he could not be saved.
To mourn loss of a son is a trauma, any mother in the universe would not like to go and to mourn the loss of two son’s in a short span of time is a trauma no mother in this world should face, but destiny carves its own ways and humans have to follow it. This is precisely what Bhakti did and what else could she have done? Her second son’s death rendered her life meaningless and the trauma of her disappeared son left her shattered. Yet against all odds she is living and she wonders why? Perhaps for the young widow and her children whom her son left behind. In fact her grand daughter was three years old, and grandson just two month’s old when her son died but her irony is she can’t support them financially. She is too weak to work and poverty is riding high in this unfortunate household. She supports them on the alms given by people. ”I go with a begging bowl to every hose hold and some take pity and give me some money” however she is quick to add that her neighbors taunt her for it and often pass lewd remarks which hurts her badly.
She finds solace in the fact that she saw her elder sons dead body, she says” at least I saw Latif’s face, and we buried him according to Islamic rituals, this gives me a kind of satisfaction, but when I think of my younger son my heart bleeds where is he? Is he alive, I have no answer. She asks the question several times but who will answer it “my son is so handsome, tall, fair and blue eyed, just prince like, you wont believe it, until you see him and then you will wonder how I am living without him.” Says Bhakti as the tears roll down her cheeks they just won’t stop and how can they. Thirty years before, she was widowed, but her son’s had kept her going and today they have left her alone to fend for herself in this big bad world. Nothing to eat for, no money, yet there is a bleak hope that her son will come and life would find its lost meaning.
While she was narrating her story at a hunger strike campaign organized by Association of parents of disappeared persons (APDP) a women sitting next to her, whose husband had disappeared felt her condition was better than this poor women ”I have forgotten my sorrow, and feel very bad for her:” said the lady with tears in her eyes.
Bhakti is not a sole exception of sufferers in this world, and she knows it ”I know every body else around me has lost, somebody, I don’t deny their pain, but my sorrow is more than theirs, they at least have somebody, I have nobody. This half deaf and half blind lady as some villagers’ call her is waiting for some miracle, which would unite a grieving mother and a Prince like son. Do miracles really happen? Than in this case a Messiah come from somewhere and rejuvenates this dying mother of Kashmir.
THE PAIN AND SORROW OF BEING A MILITANT’S FATHER
Mir is in a dilemma; will he grieve for his son or for himself?
Mohammad Mir, a 55 year old man from Saramarik Chuk, nearly 20 kms away from Handwara (south Kashmir) is wondering what to grieve about, whether to grieve about his son’s fate or his own, may be both. Mir’s tragedy started the day when his son went to Pakistan Administrative Kashmir (PAK) for arms training in the year 1993.After, a year he came back and was active with the on going militancy, but never visited his parents after his return.
But the army constantly harassed him during the time his son was in PAK and also after his return. He was beaten several times which led to a broken vertebrate his woes have not ended as he recalls his painful story
“My son, Ghulam Nabi Mir, was only 17 years old when he crossed to PAK as it was easy for anyone to lure him. After a year we learnt from some villagers that he came back, but he never visited us. We made efforts to locate him but failed to know any thing about his whereabouts. The army frequently visited my home during the time my son was away and after my son’s return from PAK threatened me of dire consequences. They forced me to convince him to surrender, which I couldn’t as I never met my son after his return from PAK.
The army beat me up and also broke my vertebrate and the doctors told me that my problem is inoperable. The army harassed and stopped me from filing the FIR, which creates an impression in my mind that they might know something about my son. Still the army used come to my home and asks for my son.”
Being illiterate and living in the far-flung area he has not filed any case or FIR. But the irony is that the father has become the scapegoat and is harassed at any given opportunity. His heartcries for his son, but being a father of a militant his heart bleeds for himself.
YOUR LORDSHIPS, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?
ABSOLVED A RAPIST!
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on January 2, 2003,quashed the proceeding of summary general court martial in which an army captain was convicted for raping a mother and daughter in a Banihal village of Jammu division.
An army Captain Ravinder Singh Tewatia, of 12 RR camped at Upper Gund, Banihal, was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and termination of service for allegedly raping two women in village Nogam near Banihal, in Jammu division of the Jammu & Kashmir state during the intervening night of January 13 and 14, 2000. The owner of the household, whose daughter and wife had been raped by the army captain and a Jawan, had lodged a complaint with authorities that the captain along with three jawans knocked at his door at about 9 p.m. Considering, that forces personnel want to search the house, Sanaullah opened the door. The army captain, according to him, asked him to prepare the tea. When he approached the kitchen the captain pounced on his daughter, a eleventh class student, and raped her in adjacent room. Meanwhile, the army personal kept Sanaullah locked in a room. And raped his wife. The army personal along with their captain left the household at 11 p.m. However, before leaving they threatened the family with dire consequences in case they revealed the incident to anybody.
In morning, however, when the news of this horrendous crime spread around, hundreds of people came on streets and lodged strong protest and demonstration. It was on the behest of the neighbors, that Sanaullah lodged complaint in police station.
In summary court marshal the army captain was found guilty and was convicted to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and termination of service.
However, the captain challenged the verdict of court martial in the Jammu and Kashmir high court making it one of the rare cases of setting aside the proceeding of the summery general court martial. Justice Tejinder Singh Doabia of J&K high court in his 35 pages judgment observed that the statement of prosecutrix was doubtful in nature as both she and her father knew the petitioner but they didn’t mention his name in the FIR. The court held that the statement of sexual assault didn’t come out at any stage during the proceeding, which shows that prosecutrix was not truthful witness.
The court said if the petitioner already knew the prosecutrix then no reliance could be placed on the identification parade. The circumstantial evidence is of no consequence.
The court observed that the blanket that was reported to have bloodstains smears was never taken into possession. The father of the girl reported that she was found unconscious but no such statement has been made by prosecutrix. During the proceeding she had stated that after the incident she got up immediately and had bath and washed her clothes.
The court said that the authorities that conducted court martial have not noticed the fact she was subjected to sexual assault twice and there seems to be no application of mind by those who conducted court martial.
About the confessional statement, justice Doabia observed that the confession made by the petitioner before a captain Ajit Singh would be of no consequence. As the officer, the court said, belongs to 31 RR against which local people have raised slogans. The court also observed that only three doctors out of four signed the report. The case as projected by the prosecutrix was not truthful and, “it would not be safe to rely upon her statements”.
Quashing the proceeding of the summary court martial, Justice Doabia said, in this position the findings and ultimate conviction recorded and confirmation of the sentence by the higher authority are found vitiated. The court said the petitioner was entitled to be set at liberty and he was released from the detention forthwith.
It may be recalled that captain Ravinder Singh Tewatia was posted as commander of ‘C’ company, 12 Rashtriya Rifles, (RR) at Upper Gund, Banihal.
SHRC: A FACADE, WHICH SHIELDS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS
The Chairman of the Sate Human Rights Commission, Justice A. Q. Parray once described the SHRC a toothless body. After describing it “toothless” he paused for a moment and then stated, “it is tailless too”.
Whether Justice Parray adheres to that statement or not, but over the years we have seen SHRC has proved mere facade to shield the perpetrators, who have committed worst crimes against humanity. Apart from just giving an excuse to the government that it has constituted SHRC for looking into human rights abuses, it has served neither people nor done any service to uphold the human rights in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
An example would be of the widows, whom SHRC recommended compensation to the tune of Rs 2,00000, but who were neither provided with the money nor were the criminals brought to justice. The SHRC recommended compensation to the tune of Rs 2 lakh to Mehtaba, in June 2000. Mehtaba thought that the meager money recommended by the SHRC might provide her some relief. However, it didn’t take her long to see the attitude of the government towards the recommendations of SHRC, government didn’t bother to respond and left her in lurch.
Though disillusioned, she again approached the SHRC. The chairman of the SHRC this time asked her to file a writ petition in the court of law. Acting on the advice of the chairman, Mehtaba through a lawyer served a notice to the then chief secretary urging him to pay the amount recommended by the SHRC or face legal action. The chief secretary chose to ignore the notice and since then Mehtaba, has been moving from pillar to post in search of justice but all in vain.
Mehtaba w/o late Mahad Khan r/o Karihama, Kupwara had a son, Muhammad Ayoub Khan. A Tonga (Horse cart) owner. Ayoub used to work very hard to earn his livelihood. However, suddenly one day he was arrested by the troopers of BSF 76 and 56 battalion during a search operation on October 14, 1990 along with three others. Since then his whereabouts are not known.
Mehtaba accompanied by several villagers visited the BSF camp at Batrigam next morning. Shockingly, the BSF officials denied Ayoub’s arrest. In the meanwhile, the youth who were arrested by the BSF along with Ayoub were released. When she approached the police, it didn’t respond positively and refused to register FIR. Instead of pursuing police and face humiliation, poor woman preferred to file petition in the state high court. The high court directed the judicial magistrate Kupwara to hold an enquiry into the enforced disappearance.
The judicial magistrate examined a number of witnesses and held that Ayoub had been arrested by BSF 56th and 57th battalion and later was subjected to enforced disappearance. The high court accepted the enquiry report and directed the concerned police to register an FIR. According to FIR No 1 of 1993 was registered under sections 302, 342 and 201 RPC. No action, however, could be taken against the erring BSF men as the government of India refused to accord sanction to prosecution. It may be recalled seeking permission for prosecuting the personnel of armed forces is a requirement under section 6, Armed forces special powers act.
Finally, Mehtaba filed a petition in the state human rights commission, SHRC, Srinagar. The SHRC after investigating the case came to conclusion that Ayoub had been subjected to enforced disappearance by the security forces. It recommended payment of Rs 2 lakh to Mehtaba as ex-gratia.
The SHRC sent a letter No SHRC/99/256-1069 dated June 3, 2000 to chief secretary, which was received vide no 2387-PSH/2000 dated June 7, 2000. A copy of letter was also sent to the Home Minister. The deputy commissioner, Kupwara was also furnished a copy of the SHRC order. But the ex-gratia was never paid till date.
INTERNAL MIGRATION
While the migration of Kashmiri pandits from the valley, remained focus of national attention. There were other similar migrations, which remained, unnoticed and unattended including displacement of lakhs of Kashmiris from the peripheries of the Kashmir valley.
The rehabilitation and relief of the Kashmiri pandit migrants remains main priority of the state and center government over the last ten years. They are being provided monetary and legal protection relating to their property and jobs and were also given monthly allowances and free accommodation. This in spite of the fact that most of the Kashmiri pandits came from elite classes and were economically well off as compared to others but the border migrants from Jammu division and Kashmir division were mostly illiterate farmers and exclusively dependent upon their farms, which continue to remain unproductive fallow on account of bearing the burnt of landmines, which have been laid down in these farms by the Indian army. These migrants, who were forced to desert their houses and farms, were not given the same package and protection by the state as is given to the Kashmir pandits.
The causes of internal migration within the valley are many. This migration was either being caught in crossfire between militants and security forces, each attributing identifying person with other, thus legitimizing his harassment. Harassment on the part of security agencies, when they perceive that someone is harboring militants or made to believe so by the adversaries of a particular person in a village. This harassment also led to huge influx of people from the villages towards the city
Other category was of those, whose relatives happen to be militants. They were perceived to be legitimate target by the security agencies. One more group, which apparently had nothing to do with the militancy, but were forced to desert their places, were those who were identified to have a tilt towards particular party or ideology. This group includes members and sympathizers of Jamaat-e-Islami, National Conference and other parties or ideologies.
VICTIMS OF COUNTER INSURGENCY AND MIGRATION
Counter insurgency was initiated by the Indian security agencies through former militants who had surrendered before the army.They were kept in vicinity of army camps and allowed to do whatever they felt feasible. Bereft of any command and control and not subjected to any discipline, these counter insurgents soon become instrument of terror, loot and harassment. They indulged in inhumane acts, killed people on flimsy grounds, and eliminated suspected militants in fake encounters. Their names send shivers down the spines of a common man, such was the reign of terror unleashed by them. Their vulgar acts of extortion, vindictiveness, and loot catalyzed huge influx of peopled from various areas.
13 FAMILIES MIGRATE FROM KERAN
The migration of 13 families from Keran is a classic example of internal migration. Bore, a beautiful hamlet in Keran sector is situated very close to Line of Control (LoC). Thirteen families lived there happily. However, on December 8, 1990, the troops told them to move to a neighboring village, some 6 Km from Bore for a couple of days. The hapless families were assured safe return to their homes after three days. But since then thirteen years have passed but chances of their return seem quite bleak. The army had planted thousands of landmines in the area and declared it a “no man’s land”.
The hapless families are pleading every official to redress their grievance, but they were not provided any relief nor given any compensation for making their homes a “no man’s land”. The calamity relief fund committee held a meeting on October 13, 1992 with then chief secretary in chair. It considered the recommendations of the then divisional commissioner the benefits granted to migrants be granted to them as well. The committee also decided to extend cash assistance and free ration to 61 people, “till further orders, or until they were allowed to return to their native village”
The order No Relief/219 dated July 6, 1993 was sent to deputy commissioner for compliance. A sum of Rs 1000 was paid per family every month and the families heaved a sigh of relief. Little, did they know that the respite was short-lived.
In 1993, Abdul Razzak filed a petition in the state high court, which, however, disposed off the petition (CMP 985/95) of security of Keran sector; the displaced communities cannot be settled in Bore. The commanding officer of the 11 Mahar, Colonel Joshi quoting the court judgment submitted his report accordingly on August 5, 1993.
“In 1994, we called on the governor, K.V. Krshina Rao. He told us to contact the concerned district magistrate. But the relief was never given” said septuagenarian Abdul Razzak Bhat adding that the relief which the government had been paying (Rs 1000) was stopped for the unknown reasons.
The governor also recommended appointment of Rafiq Bhat s/o Abdul Razzak Bhat as a teacher in the educational department as special case. But the appointment was never made. While all this was going on, the BSF recommended payment of ex-gratia stating the families cannot be sent back in the interest of the security of the state. Disappointed, two families tried a short rout to end their miseries; they crossed the LoC and settled in Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
MLA REBUKED, DETAINED, RELEASED
Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo MLA Kishtwar had a tough time when the J.P. Firm chopper, was not allowed to land at Kishtwar helipad by the army authorities. He was returning from a remote area of Dachhan after inaugurating the power transformer. The chopper had to hover in the air for about fifteen minutes and the pilot repeatedly requested the army who are in-charge of the helipad to allow the chopper to land. However, the army later on allowed the chopper to land but adding insult to the injury the captain of 9 sectors RR allegedly rebuked the MLA and forced him to sit on the boulders and filthy ground.
Speaking to Informative Missive Mr. Kichloo said that he was mentally tortured for more than two hours and exchange of hot words took place between him and the army personnel. He also said that he was kept in illegal confinement for more than an hour. Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas observed a complete shutdown against the incident and demanded a judicial probe into the matter.
Meanwhile the party workers have lodged a complaint in police station Kishtwar for investigation .The people of this area staged a demonstration to protest against ill treatment meted out to their representative.
TERROR HITS BEERWAH
January 25: Beerwah is a village in Budgam district where a group of nearly dozen Ikhwanis (pro-government militants) allegedly create a rein of terror among the villagers. The group commits all sorts of crimes like extortions, harassment and intimidation, which restricts the free movement of the residents of the area. It is pertinent to mention here that the group is associated with Rashtriya Rifles camps at Drang and Lashyar in the Kandoora to Arizal belt Beerwah in Budgam. The inhabitants of upper areas of Beerwah resent the silence of police on the crimes freely committed by the group.
Locals say few days back one of the residents of the village, Abdul Qayoom Malik was abducted by the Ikhwanis from his home and later they released him on ransom of Rs. 5000. The same group locked the shop of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Wani, a shopkeeper and demanded Rs. 1 lack from his family and threatened that in case he did not pay the ransom, he won’t be allowed to open his shop.
The same group also allegedly snatched a tipper from a driver at Mashoora, Budgam, which was returned back only on the intervention of the senior police officer. The Ikhwanis have made their lives hell and the police are mute spectators, the villagers alleged.
INDEPENDENCE DAY AND ‘ENSLAVEMENT’
A week before the commemoration of Republic day, the Indian forces were on their toes. The common people were frisked thoroughly, identification parades were conducted and the security forces occupied the area around Bakshi Stadium where the day is celebrated, which causes immense problems for the people living there.
The All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) asked people to observe 26th January (Indian Republic Day) as a black day. All the shops business establishments remained closed and the traffic was off the roads. The unprecedented security presence was seen all over the state. The reports from Bandipora revealed that the security forces forced the people particularly, the shopkeepers and the vehicle drivers to wave the tricolour on their shops and vehicles. The people who attended the Friday prayers were also thoroughly frisked after they came out of the mosques. By and large the reports received from Varmul, Sopore and Islamabad said that situation was tense.
IMAM (PRIEST) BEATEN
January 29: Rashtriya Rifles (RR) allegedly beat an Imam (Priest) of the Tujjar, Sopore Jamia Masjid, which prompted the residents of the area to protest against the illegal action of the forces. People demanded an immediate action be taken against the culpable persons.
A party of 22 RR personnel led by a Major without any provocation beat an Imam, Ajaz Ahmad Maqdoomi of the Jamia Masjid at Tujjar Sharief, the famous shrine of Kashmir. The army action irked the people and they took to the street and held a demonstration. They accused the Army Major of an unjustifiable action and demanded stern action against the RR party.
The protestors brought the matter to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and the senior Superintendent of Police. They also met the Minister for Finance, Planning and Law Muzaffer Hussain Beigh, to inform him about the unwarranted action of the army.
344 HIZB MILITANTS KILLED IN 2002
Jan 8: The guerilla outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in a statement said 334 Hizbul militants laid down their lives in the erstwhile year while fighting the Indian security forces. The slain militants included fourty-nine district commanders, six battalion commanders, five company commanders and eleven section commanders. The outfit carried out 567 attacks including 78 Improvise Explosive Device (IED) blasts, 129 grenade/rocket attacks, 183 ambushes and three Fidayeen (suicidal) attacks in which 1894 Indian forces were killed, as per the statement of the outfit.
SHOPKEEPER’S KILLING SPARKS PROTEST
Jan 13: Border Security Forces (BSF) allegedly killed a shopkeeper from Baramulla. The news of the killing spread like wild fire and thousands of residents of Baramulla protested against the killing. According to locals, BSF without any provocation opened fire, which resulted in the death of a shopkeeper Shabir Ahmad Dar at Bandipora. The death of Shabir led to widespread protest people chanted anti-BSF slogans and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators. However, BSF spokes person denied the allegation as baseless. He said that the forces had received information about the presence of Lashker-e-Tayeeba militants in the house of Hilal Ahmad Rather, at Arin, Bandipora, the BSF went their for cordon. During the cordon the trapped militants’ opened fire on troops. A civilian Shabir Ahmad Wani son of Abdul Sattar received injuries in the shoot out and later succumbed to his injuries.
NAFA EDITOR SHOT DEAD
Jan 31: Unidentified gunmen entered the office of News and Feature Alliance (NAFA), a local news agency and shot dead the Editor and the owner of the agency. According to reports, two unidentified gunmen entered the office-cum-residence of Parwaz Sultan, the Editor of the NAFA at Press Enclave, Residency Road, Lal Chowk and engaged him in conversation. After a shot span of time, suddenly, one of the gunmen opened fire at him and a bullet hit his head. At that time nobody was present inside the office, which facilitated the easy escape of assailants from the scene. Parwaz in a wounded state climbed down the stairs when the neighbors spotted him; they rushed him to hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
He is survived by a young widow and three minor children. He hails from Khiram village in south Kashmir and had shifted to Srinagar 14 years back. He had been associated with many news services and wrote for both local and national newspapers.
Parwaz’s assassination was widely condemned. The Chief Minster Mufti Mohammad Sayed said his killing was as a senseless act and directed the police to nab the culprits.
WOMEN CHILDREN KILLED
Jan 1: In an unsuccessful bid to abduct the daughter of Ghulam Mohammad Rather of Shopian, unidentified gunmen opened fire resulting in the death of his daughter Nageena.
Jan 5: In an encounter between militants and security forces at Dharam Bajambri in Gool village one woman was killed. The deceased has been identified as Javeeda Begum Wife of Mohammad Abdullah.
Jan 11: In Mandi sector of Poonch, unidentified gunmen barged in the house of one Shams-ud-in and opened fire indiscriminately on the inmates, which resulted in the death of his wife and son. The deceased were identified as Barkat Bi and Mohammad Shakeel.
Jan 16: Security force allegedly killed a girl at Warnow in Lolab of district Kupwara. Reports said that a group of girls were busy working in the field when with out any provocation, security forces allegedly opened fire on them resulting in the death of one of the girls. The deceased was identified as Shakeela daughter of Abdul Rashid of Lolab.
Jan 18: Police recovered a bullet pumped body of a young woman of twenty-two years old from Damhal, Hajipora. The deceased was identified as Shakeela Akthar. It has not yet been confirmed who killed her.
Jan 19: A sixteen-year-old boy and his father were shot dead at Gund Qaiser near Bandipora. The boy was a 10nth class student.
Jan 21: Militants allegedly kidnapped a woman and later her dead body was recovered from the nearby area of Sadgi Bhatta in tehsil Kishtwar. The deceased has been identified as Meran wife of Mohammad Shafi of tehsil Kishtwar.
SOLDIER COMMITS SUICIDE
A BSF jawan of 57 BN committed suicide by firing at himself with his service rifle. Reports said a solider; Jaspal Singh posted at Humhama Budgam shot himself when he was on guard.
This is among scores of such incidents, in which security personnel committed suicide either by shooting themselves or their colleagues. The working in the conflict zone has taken its toll on armed forces who have to remain on guard 24 hours a day.
Date
Extra Judicial Executions
Women
Children
Reported Disappearances
Jan 1
-
-
1
-
Jan 4
-
-
-
1
Jan 5
-
1
-
-
Jan 11
-
1
1
-
Jan 13
1
-
-
-
Jan 16
-
-
1
-
Jan 18
-
1
-
1
Jan 19
-
-
1
-
Jan 21
-
1
-
-
Total
1
4
4
1
KILLINGS IN THE MONTHS OF JANUARY
Date
Soldiers
Militants
Civilians
Counter Insurgents
Jan 1
2
4
2
-
Jan 2
1
-
2
-
Jan 3
-
3
2
-
Jan 4
3 (1 Inspector)
14
-
-
Jan 5
-
5
2
-
Jan 6
-
4
-
-
Jan 7
-
2
4
-
Jan 8
-
5
-
-
Jan 9
1
5
2
-
Jan 10
-
3
1
-
Jan 11
1
6
2
-
Jan 12
1
-
2
-
Jan 13
1
7
2
-
Jan 14
1
5
5
-
Jan 15
4 (1 BSF-SI)
5
2
-
Jan 16
-
7
1
-
Jan 17
-
3
1
-
Jan 18
2 (1 Army Major)
5
1
-
Jan 19
2 (1 ASI)
7
1
-
Jan 20
1
7
2 (1 political activist)
-
Jan 21
2
5
2
-
Jan 22
-
5
3
-
Jan 23
-
2
3 (1 political activist)
-
Jan 24
-
2
2 (1 political activist)
-
Jan 25
1
4
-
-
Jan 26
3
5
3
-
Jan 27
2 (1 ASI)
1
-
2
Jan 28
1
-
1 political activist
-
Jan 29
2 army officers
1
-
-
Jan 30
-
-
-
-
Jan 31
-
2
2
-
Total
31 (7 Officers)
123
50 (4 political activists)
2
CHRONOLOGY OF JANUARY 2003
Jan 1: Two soldiers, four militants and two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents
across the state.
Jan 2: A soldier and two civilians were killed in various bloodshed related incidents across the state.
Jan 3: Three militants and two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents across the
state.
Jan 4: Twelve militants, Inspector of Special Operation Group and two soldiers were killed in
separate violence related incidents in JK.
Jan 5: Four militants and two civilians including a woman were killed in several violence related
incidents across the state.
:Thirty-five persons including thirty one civilians sustained injuries when an unidentified
militant allegedly hurled a grenade towards a security forces party at Kulgam Bus Stand.
Jan 6: Four militants were killed in different violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 7: Two militants and a civilian died in various violence related incidents in the state while as
three headless bodies were recovered from a Hassanoor village in Islamabad.
Jan 8: Five militants were killed in different violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 9: Five militants, a soldier and two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents
across the state.
Jan 10:Three militants and a civilian died in various violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 11: Six militants, a soldier and two members of a family were killed in separate violence related
incidents across the state.
Jan 12: Two civilians and an army man were killed in different violence related incidents across the
state.
Jan 13: Seven militants, a soldier and two civilians died in separate incidents of violence in the state.
Jan 14: One soldier, five militants, and five civilians were killed in various violence related
incidents across the state.
Jan 15:Three soldiers including a BSF sub inspector, one SOG personnel and five militants were
killed in several violence related incidents across the state.
*: Two civilians identified as Nasir Ahmad and Nizam-ud-Din were allegedly killed by the
soldiers in cold blood.
Jan 16: Seven militants and a girl were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 17: Three militants and a civilian were killed in different violence related incidents across the
state.
Jan 18: Five militants, two soldiers including an army Major and a woman were killed in various
violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 19: Seven militants, a soldier, an ASI of Special Operation Group and his son were killed in
different violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 20: Seven militants, an army jawan, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) activist and a civilian
were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 21: Five militants, two Village Defense Committee members and two civilians including a
woman were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 22: Five militants and three civilians were killed in various violence related incidents
across the state.
Jan 23: Two militants, a National Conference activist and two civilians were killed in
different violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 24: Two militants, a Congress activist and a civilian died in various violence related
incidents across the state.
Jan 25: Four militants and a police head constable were killed in various violence related
incidents across the state.
Jan 26: Five militants, three soldiers and three civilians were in various bloodshed related incidents
across the state.
Jan 27: An Assistant sub-inspector of police, two alleged army informers, a soldier and a
militant were killed in different violence related incidents across the state.
Jan 28: A National Conference activist and his security guard were allegedly killed by the
militants in the state.
Jan 29: Two army officers and a militant died in several violence related incidents across
the state.
Jan 30: No violence related an incident has taken place.
Jan 31: Two militants and two civilians including a journalist were killed in several
violence related incidents across the state.
The Informative Missive
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