The Informative Missive
Published by
PUBLIC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTSMarch 2003
Editorial: Recurrence Of Massacres
Yet another cold-blooded massacre has been committed by the phantoms of death in Kashmir killing 24 innocent people including 11 women and two infants. Even sick were not spared. The grisly visuals that flash upon the TV screens amid wailing and crying evoked a strong response from the people through out the state. It is even customary that every such massacre is followed by condemnations galore and politicians compete in condemning the incidents till occurrence of another one.
Massacres have recurred intermittently since 1989, without sparing any section of the community. Misfortunes have treated the majority and the minority communities alike in Kashmir. The major massacres that have blotted the past of the state since 1989, started with the horrific bloodbath at Srinagar, Gow Kadal on January 21, 1990, where more than 50 civilians were killed and scores injured when para-military forces fired indiscriminately upon the non-violent and peaceful demonstrators. On May 21, 1990, at the funeral processions of slain Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, forces massacred over 50 innocent Kashmiris. On April 10, 1993, troops set ablaze 260 houses and shops at Lal Chowk Srinagar burning several alive and injuring scores... In 1998, 25th Jan, unidentified gunmen at Wandhama, Ganderbal in North Kashmir, gunned down 23 Kashmiri Pundits. Again in the same year after five months on 25th June, 25 Hindus were killed and 6 others critically injured in Champnari village of Doda district when a group of armed persons fired indiscriminately on a marriage party. On 20th March 2000, unidentified gunmen killed 35 Sikhs in a brutal manner. Alarmingly, the number of massacres here is as disturbing as in any other active conflict zones that have hogged the international headlines.
Like past massacres, the state and the armed actors blamed each other. And in this blame-game the truth has become the first causality like other conflict areas. It seems that this incident has suited to all the actors in the conflict. The new regime had decided to rehabilitate the Kashmri Pundits in clusters at Anantnag and Srinagar and it seemed that the government was serious. This incident has scuttled that plan, which if succeeded would have vindicated government’s claims that normalcy has returned to Kashmir. The BJP and other Hindutva forces, which are fast expanding its Hindutva ideology on communal bases would find this incident as handy to derive the political mileage in India, particularly, when the BJP have faced the electoral reverses in few states and are facing the parliamentary elections in 2004. The assassins have obliged these Hindutva forces also.
The massacre has also pleased the erstwhile National Conference government, which was accused of not providing the protection to the members of the minority community. With the exception of the ruling party, which has become defensive the incidents has served the purpose of varying vested interests.
Though the United Nations, Secretary General, Kofi Anan, the US President and the UK Prime Minister rightly and promptly condemned the incident, the sympathy of the local people evaporated because of their selective humanitarian concern. Daily killings have become a routine and human lives have been reduced to mere numbers. People feel that other killings are not assailed, particularly the disappearances which according to the government’s own estimates is 3744, causing untold human, emotional, and economical sufferings to the members tentatively more than two hundred thousand. The culprits responsible for this outrageous crime have committed crime against humanity and they must be exposed and punished. Only the exposure can work as a deterrent to stop such incidents and other heinous crimes. The government’s attitude after massacres particularly after the Chattisingpora massacre gave the impression that government is unwilling to hold enquiries. Even in the cases where the needle of suspicion explicitly points towards the security forces. The present government claims of transparency, and accountability, are yet to pass the litmus test of practicing these principals. Whether they can hold much-demanded impartial enquiries remains to be seen. In the absence of willingness on part of the state, the people’s tribunals (civil society) can conduct the enquiries and expose the perpetrators.
We believe all the people who are genuinely concerned about the human rights situation in Kashmir whatever political positions they have must come forward and expose these perpetrators whosoever are behind otherwise we have to wait for another massacre and the replay of the rituals.
MASSACRES UNABATED
March 24: In yet another gruesome incident a group of ‘unidentified gunmen’ butchered twenty-four persons including eleven women and two children from Kashmiri Hindu community at Nadimarg, Shopian in South Kashmir. The massacre has been widely condemned. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed suspended nine policemen and separatists demanded probe into the incident.
On 24th March around 11:30 p.m., a group of unidentified gunmen in army uniform entered the area. The group went to the police post meant for protection of the Pandits (Kashmiri Hindus) of the area. They snatched their weapons including four S.L.R, three 303 rifles, a carbine gun and wireless set from them. Then they forcibly gathered the Pundits in a compound and fired indiscriminately on them. Due to the firing, twenty-four persons including eleven women and two minors were killed. Immediately after the incident, the gunmen fled away along with the weapons of the policemen. It was reported that they also looted cash and jewelry from some houses before the carnage.
Nadimarg, a village 70 kms from the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, housed about 40 families, all pandits (Kashmiri Hindus). With the eruption of militancy in 1990, most of the pandits left the village. However, some twenty families preferred to stay back, which comprised of peasants and government employees. Being peasants, land was a major source of income and a reason for them to stay back, these considerations along with the motivation of neighboring Kashmiri Muslims also influenced them to stay and since 1990 they lived along with their Kashmiri brethren in peace and harmony. But March 24, changed everything, all pandits want to leave the valley - the same valley, which they had preferred over everything else back in nineties. Why? Because on March 24, they saw their mothers, fathers, sisters, sons, and daughters all drenched in blood. Exactly after four years and four days of Chittisingpora massacre, (in which 36 Kashmiri Sikhs were killed) Nadimarg massacre took place.
Eyewitnesses have a horrifying memory of that fateful night. Shanti Lal, a 20-year-old employee in the health department recalls the worst experience of his life. “I was sleeping when loud bangs on our door woke me up and in a flash the door was thrown open, three armed men barged inside. I felt something fishy and in the darkness of night hid in a chimney. I held my breath till they left and after some time I heard gun shots, I was terrified, I came out of the chimney and looked around for my family and to my shock I saw my sister and father lying among the dead.” Though Shanti Lal survived but he seeks no solace in it. For him life has come to an end. Another witness who also managed survival faced equal mental trauma during the gruesome massacre. Says Somnath, “The gunmen were in army uniform, they ordered me, my wife and my son to come out in the compound, my son hid himself under the bed, I and my wife managed to hide behind the hay stack. They searched the whole house and took away cash worth 1.7 lacs”.
Somnath can’t believe his luck that he and his family are alive, but Phoola Devi had no such luck, she lost her husband and daughter in the massacre “they asked every one to come out” says Phoola Devi” I came out with my husband and daughter, when they asked us to line up, I slipped in the dark and within seconds they started firing indiscriminately. After they left I started looking for my husband and daughter and found them dead”, a scene which shook her and she is still reeling under the shock. Another witness of the incident, who lost her husband and a son in the massacre, said the assailants were speaking pure Kashmiri, and calling the people by name as they had a list of the people with them.
The Kashmiri Pundits blame the government for not providing adequate security despite repeated requests to the government. Only nine cops were posted for their safety. "We had met deputy commissioner, Anantnag on March 22 and requested him for more security as we felt insecure because of the prevailing circumstances. He didn’t pay any heed to our requests and rebuked us saying enough security men were deployed for our safety”, said Phoola.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed assured the agitating Pundits that he would personally look into the matter. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad also assured them of immediate action.
Mainstream politicians and separatist leaders visited this village. The visiting leaders included chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed, PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and president of Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmad Shah. The leaders expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and strongly condemned the incident. The affected families related their woes.
Senior Hurriet leader and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik described the incident barbaric and demanded impartial probe into the incident. "We will cooperate with the probe committee provided the men of integrity are included in the committee. Those who are responsible irrespective of their involvement should be hanged in public", said Yasin Malik.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayed suspended all the nine cops reportedly on duty at Zainapora police station on Monday. Announcing the suspension of nine cops, four of whom had reportedly surrendered their arms before the heavily armed militants. Official sources said the cops had allegedly fled the scene as terrorists attacked the village. The residents blamed the police inaction for the massacre.
J&K MASSACRES SINCE 1989 PROBES LEAD NOWHERE
The Nadimarg massacre of Kashmri Pundits could well be another closed file in police records. While the government was quick to blame the Lashker-e-Tayeeba (Let) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Police in Srinagar say though they have some definite leads but it is difficult to unmask the killers. Given the police track record not many in the state believe that culprits will be ever found and punished. Following are some of the cases where probes were ordered but so far nothing has come out of those enquiries.
Sadhu in Anantnag, June 29 1999: 12 brick kiln workers from Bihar killed by unidentified gunmen in the dead of night.
Lashkar-e-Taiba blamed.
Case status: under investigation.
Chittisingpora in Anantnag, March 20-2000: Thirty-five Sikhs killed by unidentified gunmen.
Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jasih-e-Mohammad blamed.
Case status: Two Pakistani nationals challaned. Five days after the incident, police killed five militants who turned out to be innocent villagers at Pathribal.
Sheshnag in Pahalgam, July 21, 2001: 13 people, including seven Amarnath yatris (pilgrims), killed by militants.
A militant killed in return fire.
Case status: others untraced, case closed.
Qazigund /Achabal in Anantnag, August 1-2000: Twenty-seven Bihari labourers gunned down in Qazigund (20) and Achabal (7).
Lashkar-e-Taiba blamed.
Case status: Ghulam Rasool Lone of Malwan, Anantnag arrested.
Lidder Nullah in Pahalgam, August 1- 2000: 32 Amarnath yatris killed.
Police said two militants from a group were killed in return fire.
Case status: others untraced, case closed.
In Srinagar, February 3 – 2001: Six killed as militants target Sikh houses.
Case status: militant untraced, case closed.
Nunwan in Pahalgam: August 6-2002: Amaranath yatra camp attacked by militants, 9 Yatris killed. Police gun down a militant.
Case status: Militant identified, unknown others untraced. Case closed.
INVESTIGATED REPORT OF MUSHTAQ AHMED LONE’S ASSASSINATION NOT SATISFACTORY
Former Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Navin Chowdhary presented his investigated report about the assassination of Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, the former National Conference (NC) minister on March 26th 2003, before the State Legislative Assembly. Mushtaq Memorial Trust condemned the report and it called for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to start the inquiry.
The Trust was not satisfied with the report, which although had held security forces and the subsequent security lapse responsible for Lone’s death, but the report was in no way satisfactory and complete, said a spokesperson of the trust. He added, “Lone’s killing was not a lone case of assassination; only two months before his killing, his brother was also shot dead. This was not a killing in isolation but a series of killings that needs a serious probe.” and demanded further probe by CBI itself.
PATHRIBAL INCIDENT TO BE PROBED AGAIN
March 26: Minister for finance, law and parliamentary affairs, Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the cabinet committee on Pathribal incident would soon submit its report to the government. He said that the matter was referred to the cabinet committee following a report submitted by the Justice Kuchai Commission regarding fudging of DNA samples. The commission has indicted some police officials. Baig said the cabinet committee would be meeting soon, and a report along with the action taken report would be submitted to the cabinet within 15 days for further action. He also said that the report would be made public so that people come to know about the truth.
It may be recalled that five innocents were taken from different parts of Islamabad in South Kashmir and killed in cold blood at Panchaltan, labeling them as “terrorists” responsible for Chattisinghpora massacre in which 24 Kashmiri Sikhs lost their lives. When the truth came to light that the five “terrorists” were in fact innocent civilians, the then government ordered an enquiry to identify the victims. However the government tried to hide the fact by fudging with the DNA samples of the relatives of the victim. An enquiry commission headed by justice Kuchai was constituted to investigate the matter. The commission has submitted its report to the new government.
DODA DIARY
By People’s Forum for Peace, Doda
IMPLANTATION OF IED KILLS ONE, INJURES ANOTHER
In two separate incidents of Improvise Explosive Device (IED) blasts, a minor was killed and another received multiple injuries, when they accidentally stepped over the IEDs, planted allegedly by the 8 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Doodwat area of district Doda.
March 11: A school going boy of 7th class, Khushi Mohammad, aged 14, son of Noor Din of Doodwat, was killed while herding his cattle for grazing in a field adjacent to his home. He accidentally stepped over a mine, which was planted in the field, and in the blast he received critical injuries.
The villagers after hearing the sound of the blast, rushed towards the scene where they saw Khushi lying in a pool of blood. The villagers immediately took him to District Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. It was alleged that the 8 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) had planted the mines in the area, particularly, in grazing fields. Meanwhile, similar incident of mine blast came in to existence when a teenager boy Nadeem Mir son of Mohammad Ramzan Mir of the same village stepped over a mine implanted by the same army. He received severe injuries. He was rushed to the District Hospital where the doctors said that his condition was very critical.
People of the area protested against the implantation of the mines in the area. The field activities and the free movement of the villagers were affected badly because of mines planted in their fields. The villagers said that the very source of their lives - their fields had turned into their deathbeds.
STUDENT KILLED, LABELED AS FOREIGN MILITANT
On 13th of March 2000, a student, Ashiq Rasool Bhat, 25, years of age, resident of Yar Muquam, Ganderbal; was killed in a fake encounter by the Rashtriya Rifles at Chunti Waliwar after they arrested him from Lar, Ganderbal, alleged his parents while talking to PCHR. They also appealed for the legal assistance.
Here is the statement of Ashiq’s father, Gulzar Ahmad, a government teacher:
“Ashiq Rasool my elder son had passed 12th class exams from Higher Secondary School in the year 1999. He applied for the admission in Islamia College Srinagar, as he had to wait for one month to join the classes, it was decided that he would work as a daily wager in a private Cement Factory at village Lar, Ganderbal. He was an intelligent and hard working boy and used to teach some children in Chunti, Gulabpora after 4:00 PM.
On March 13, 2000, when he was coming out of the factory, 19 RR personnel picked him up. He was said to be took to Chunti Waliwar, 3 km away from his factory, where army had received information about militant presence. I believe that he was taken to help them show the place around and was used as a human shield.
There was an encounter between militants and the army in which two militants and my son was killed. The army filed an FIR No.63/2000 in police station Ganderbal. The FIR stated that the army on the information by Special Task Force (STF), Ganderbal; conducted a cordon and search operation in village Chunti Waliwar at about 7:45 a.m. Army FIR further stated that three “terrorists” were killed in an ensuing encounter. They were identified as Loras Khan r/o Karachi, Para trooper of Pakistani army and IED expert, Hafiz Khan r/o Pakistan and Zaffer Iqbal r/o Pakistan. Army said along with ammunition recovered, the bodies of three slain militants were handed over to the police.
Meanwhile, we made extensive efforts to trace out my beloved son. The commandant of the area had instructed the people of the locality that if anybody’s son was found missing he should be informed first. I along with my cousin went to the commandant on 15th of March where he behaved rudely and told me not to disturb him and his men again.
On March 23, I gave a public notice in an Urdu daily Alsafa about the disappearance of Ashiq. And, on March 24, we learnt that a civilian has been killed in an encounter at Chunti Waliwar. We rushed to the SHO, Ganderbal along with the photographs and identity card, since police had taken the photographs of the alleged militants killed. And one of the photographs, which was claimed by the army as Zaffer Iqbal of Pakistan, was none other than, my son Ashiq Rasool.
After this, my cousin Nazir Ahmad Bhat moved an application to the District Magistrate, as I was shell-shocked. On that application, the District Magistrate sought report from the police and finally the District Magistrate, on March 24 ordered to exhume the body of Ashiq for burial purpose. And, on the same day the body was exhumed from Dhobipora graveyard and later we buried him in our ancestral graveyard at Yar Muqam.
After the exhumation of the body and burial, the army major threatened us and pressurised us not to pursue the case. In case we would not comply his orders he warned me that my whole family would be eliminated, which compelled me to keep silence.
Now recently after the new government came to power I moved an application to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar for investigating the matter regarding the killing of my son and the DC referred the case to relief section and in the relief section I have been told that since army has claimed that my son was a militant, I was disentitled to relief. Now I want that my other son Fayaz Ahmad, 22, get a little benefit under SRO No 43”
My wife Muglee is shocked over the brutal killing of her son and from whom she had lot of expectations. However, the family seems to be apprehensive about the army if they confront them.
JAISH-E -MOHAMMAD MILITANT KILLED KASHMIRI STUDENTS ARRESTED
In a half an hour-long encounter in Noida sector about 20 km away from New Delhi, an alleged area commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit was gunned down in a joint operation of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Forces (STF) and Noida police.
In an encounter which took place in a park in Noida sector between police and alleged militants in which an area commander of JeM for district Baramulla in south Kashmir identified as Manzoor Dar was killed while his associates managed to escape. According to a police spokesman, a group of JeM militants headed by Manzoor Dar had several plans to attack the India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament and Bombay stock exchange.
Senior Superintendent of STF said that the recent alert around the India gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan were conceivably related with this group’s movements. He added that Manzoor reported to one Rashid, who in turn, reported to Ghazi Baba, the architect of the Dec 13 attack on Parliament. Ghazi Baba who heads Jaish outfit in India, reports to Azhar Masood the founder of JeM in Pakistan.
Manzoor had also plans to setup bases in Western UP but the police being on his trail from 30 Nov 2002, he was unable to contact his accomplices in Muzzafarnagar and Hapur. Manzoor went to Noida in order to hand over some weapons, document, cash and a motorcycle. But the police had set up an ambush, said Rajiv Krishna, Gautam Budh Nagar police chief. As Manzoor arrived at the bus terminal near Prakash Hospital on his motorcycle, an unknown man approached him. At this point, one of the officers accosted Manzoor. The unknown men fled, and Manzoor sped off towards the Sector 32park
Police cornered Manzoor who had taken cover behind the park’s boundary wall. He opened fire with his AK-47 assault rifle, fired at least 40 bullets before he died in the cross fire. Aftermath of Noida Police encounter
After the Noida incident, Kashmiri Diaspora especially the students are facing manifold problems in entire India, especially in Uttar Pradesh.
March 11: Special Task Force (STF) of Utter Pradesh (UP) arrested two Kashmiri students on charges of plotting troublemaking activities in Delhi, the capital of India. The allegation of UP police was dismissed as baseless by the parents of on of the arrested student
Police claimed to have seized a sketch of Parliament House, a map of Delhi, a telephone dairy and mobile phone form their possession. They were assigned to collect details of places like India Gate, Parliament House, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Railway Station, stock exchange and other esteemed places to carry out militant activities.
The father of one of the arrested student Mehraj Hassan (a student of 10th standard R.K.P.G. College of Agriculture Shamli Muzaffer Nagar) termed his son’s arrest as an act of harassment to the Kashmiri students.
“My son is studying there from last five years and is not even remotely affiliated with any anti-national activity, I fail to understand why they (STF) implicated him in anti-national activities.” He appealed to the concerned authorities to intervene in the matter and save the future of his son, who is totally innocent.
Four Kashmiri students were arrested between 10 and 12 March by the police in Shamli town of Muzaffarabad for allegedly having affiliation with Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit.
The arresting authorities claimed to have recovered five AK 47 magazines and explosive material from them. Two of the boys arrested were identified as Sajjad Hussain and Itafakul Hassan who according to authorities were allegedly planted to create trouble in Bombay and Delhi.
Two more students of Kisan Agriculture College were arrested at Kisan for having alleged links with Pakistani Inter Service Intelligence (ISI). On March 29, the reports from Meerut revealed that two of them were arrested under the anti-terror law and on the directions of a POTA court were remanded, to one-week police custody. One of the students who were arrested along with them was charged under Arms Act.
JOINT SCREENING COMMITTEE
March 6: The Jammu and Kashmir government constituted a high level joint screening committee (JSC) to review the cases of detenues involved in various militancy related incidents. The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Financial Commissioner, Home S.D. Singh. Joint secretary, Rakesh Hooja, Principal secretary S.D Singh, Director General Police A.K Suri and Assistant Director General, CID, Kuldeep Khuda were present in the meeting.
The state government released 12 suspects involved in various militant activities. All are accused of militant activities, which includes killing of various police and BSF officials, bomb blasts, possessing arms and other explosives. Apart from that, three prisoners charged under POTA and two under TADA too have been released on parole by the government.
JKLF chief Yaseen Malik, former Hurriet Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Parvez Ahmad Dar are amongst the released on parole.
March 13: On the recommendations of Joint Screening Committee, the chief minister ordered release of 17 detenues who were not involved in serious militancy related incident.
March 17: The CM on March 17,informed the State Assembly about the hurdles created by the opposition especially national conference and BJP, against the release of political prisoners.
“We do not want killers to go scot free but in democratic set up innocents should not be punished” said chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while replying to the accusations leveled on him,’ that he was setting criminals free.
‘’It is our aim and part of our Common
Minimum Programme (CMP) that the people who have completed their terms or those who are not involved in any anti-national activity should not be kept in jails,’ he added.
However, assurances of the government are proving hallow. Opposition stand against the governments “healing touch policy” is very strong as they describe it “appeasement of militants”, While as, government is much vocal about the “healing touch policy” but ironically it is not providing any balm to the people to heal their wounds. The verbosity and rhetoric is all that is being dished out day-in and day-out, and through media, people are being led to believe that government was concerned about the plight of detenues and it was releasing them. However, the ground situation is totally different. Screening committee is meeting not to issue orders for release of militants but to set the date of next meeting. This is paradox.
March 23: JSC decided to meet again on March 27 for deciding the fate of 81 political prisoners and militants currently lodged in different jails across the state. The cases of 81 prisoners, including 54 militants who are not involved in serious violence related offences in the state, were to be discussed. The meeting was postponed, due to cancellation of flights, central representatives failed to arrive on the scheduled date of January 10.
HIZB OPERATIONAL COMMANDER KILLED
March 23: Unknown gunmen assassinated the former operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Abdul Majeed Dar, 55, at the residence of his younger brother at Noor Bagh, Sopore. His mother and sister sustained injuries in shoot out. In July 2000, Abdul Majeed Dar announced the unilateral ceasefire. Dar used to visit his brother Fayaz Ahmad regularly and this time, he went there for attending a function.
At around 12:15 p.m. four unidentified gunmen stopped outside the house and knocked at the door of the house. Dar’s mother Shah Begum came out, the gunmen asked her about Fayaz Ahmad’s whereabouts. She told them that at the moment he is not at home. The armed men told her that they want to see who was inside the house. Smelling a rat, Dar’s mother and sister resisted their entry on confrontation the gunmen opened the barrels of their guns, concealed inside their Pherans (traditional Kashmiri dress) and shot bullets injuring both of them. Thereafter, the two gunmen barged inside the house and seeing Abdul Majeed Dar in one of the rooms opened fire capriciously on him. Dar received injuries on several parts of the body. Immediately, after that the gunmen fled from the spot.
Dar received serious injuries resulting in severe blood loss. When the neighbours heard the cries they rushed to the house and found Dar lying in a pool of blood, his sister and mother lying on the floor. They rushed all the three to the Sopore hospital where the doctors referred them to Sher-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS). Majeed Dar succumbed to his injuries en route.
The news of Dar’s killing spread like a wild fire. Officials of various security agencies and police rushed to Fayaz’s house. Majeed Dar’s body was laid to rest at the martyr’s graveyard at Jamia Qadeem at about 6:00 pm. Two unknown militant organizations, Save Kashmir Movement and Al-Nasireen claimed responsibility of Majeed Dar’s killing, according to local news agencies. Meanwhile Hizbul Mujahideen condemned the killing.
ENQUIRY ORDERED INTO CUSTODIAL DISAPPEARANCE OF 2 BROTHERS
March 12: for the first time in the Legislative Assembly, the government regarding the disappearances, of two brothers, Mohammed Shafi Rah and Mushtaq Ahmad Rah, who were arrested by the Nepali police on 28th of august 2001, and later handed to Indian authorities, has ordered an enquiry. Since then their whereabouts are not known. The two brothers were running a shop in Delhi. The family of the disappeared youth moved from pillar to post and searched every jail within and outside the state.
The Minister of the State for Home, Abdul Rehman Veeri ordered a probe into the disappearances of these two brothers.
The probe was ordered when People’s Democratic Forum President and MLA, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami raised the issue in the assembly. The MLA presented the newspaper cutting to the speaker, in which the details about the disappeared persons were published and demanded an immediate action be taken in tracing out the disappeared youth.
The speaker, Tara Chand intervened and asked the government to hold an enquiry in this matter.
Later, Abdul Rehman Veeri informed the house that the government has started the process in the matter and it will take up the matter with the central government to trace out the missing youth.
It may be recalled that the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) from Samakosi, Kathmandu, arrested two Kashmiri boys on 28th August 2001.The Kathmandu Post and other daily newspapers reported this arrest. The family members and Association of parents of disappeared persons (APDP) had made extensive efforts to ascertain their efforts. Some how the family came to know that they were lodged in Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan. The family members filed a Habeas Corpus petition (No.4/2002) in the high court of Jammu and Kashmir for seeking interview with the detenues. The high court directed the superintendent of jail Jodpur for granting permission to petitioners to meet the detenues. The family rushed to Jodpur, but they were never granted an audience. They were told that no such person was lodged In the Jail, since then the family has been making every post to trace out their sons.
25 SOG PERSONNEL TERMINATED, CLAIMS GOVERNMENT
March 11: In an unprecedented move the newly constituted government terminated the services of twenty-five Special Operations Group (S.O.G) personnel and also presented challans against twenty-five others for their alleged involvements in different human rights violations including rapes, custodial killings, extortions, harassments etc. while the investigation against three accused are going on.
Chief Minster informed the Legislative Assembly that the government’s process of assimilating and relocation of S.O.G personnel within the regular establishment of executive police had already initiated. Hitherto, the department had received 49 complaints against fifty-three officials of SOG, thirty-six from Jammu and thirteen from Kashmir for their involvement in various cases of human rights abuses. Twenty-five out of fifty three were terminated from their duties, while challan has been presented to twenty-five, against whom cases were established during investigation. The Chief Minster further added “we have promised the people in our Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of disbanding the SOG against whom the people are complaining of human rights violations, and we do not want to go into the details about what has been done by this group. We have given clear directions that the police will continue to be the important element in anti-militancy operations, they were uncontrolled but we controlled their power and strength”.
Prior to C.M, the Minster of State for Home, Abdul Rehman Veeri stated that following disband of SOG; it was now a part of the executive police and working under the administrative control of the concerned SSPs. He added that fourty-nine complaints of rape, custodial killing, harassment, coercion, wrongful confinements, corruption and other cases had been received against fifty-three SOG officials by the Home Department. Of these, twenty-five officials who were found guilty after investigation and legal determination, were terminated from service, whereas, challans had been produced before the court of law against twenty-five others and three remaining cases are under investigation.
HIGH LEVEL EMERGENCY MEETING “SOG NOT DEAD” GOPALASWAMY
March 31: A high level emergency meeting was held at New Delhi with the agenda of security strategy in Jammu and Kashmir. The Deputy Prime Minster of India, L.K. Advani, chaired the meeting. The meeting, which lasted for two and a half hours, laid emphasis on the security strategy, in the wake of increased spate in militancy related incidents during last few months. The members who took part in the meeting were Governor G.C. Saxena, Chief Minster Mufti Mohammad Syed, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Minister of External Affairs Yaswant Sinha, Chief of Army Staff, General N. C. Vij, heads of intelligence agencies and several other high officials.
It was decided to constitute a Special Group of Top Security and Intelligence Officers to review existing macro strategies of the security forces and intelligence agencies and suggest appropriate strategies to counter militancy in the state during the coming months. Significantly, after five years this review has been taken. A.K. Bandari, special secretary Jammu and Kashmir will head the group including representatives of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Army, B.S.F, C.R.P.F and State Police. Joint Secretary Jammu and Kashmir, will be the convener of the group. The group has been given the deadline of three months. The group shall hold detailed discussions with concerned agencies in state and centre. The members of the committee will also visit the state before finalizing their recommendations.
It may be recalled that in the year 1998, a similar group was constituted under the chairmanship of T.R. Kakar, which had recommended a three-pronged strategy in J&K. Home Secretary N. Gopalsawamy said an exercise to review policy and strategy had become necessary in the wake of increase in militancy related incidents. He said the special group would take a comprehensive review of militancy. He however, didn’t agree that earlier strategy has failed to work.
However, he further said that the Special Operations Group of police is still functioning. “The SOG has not been disbanded as claimed by newspapers, but has been amalgamated in the police force. As far as the operations work is concerned, they work the same way as they have been,” He added.
THIRTEEN PERSONS INCLUDING NINE POLICE MEN KILLED
In a deadly attack, reportedly, a group of sixty heavily armed militants, killed nine policemen, a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member, two civilians including a woman, and injured nine persons including Special Police Officers (SPO’s) when they attacked a police post at a village in a remote area of Gool Gulabgarh area of district Udhampur. On the intervening night of 15th and 16th March, four policemen were found missing from the spot. However, the sources have alleged their active involvement and even a facilitating role in this kind of assault.
The attack was reportedly aimed to avenge the killing of Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) last month by the local police. The militants attacked the police post with rocket launchers, auto grenade launchers and fired indiscriminately with automatic weaponry damaging the post completely. They also torched six residential houses and a hospital while they were leaving the spot. Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) A.K. Suri along with Inspector of Police Jammu zone, P.L. Gupta and other senior police officials reached the spot. Police and Border Security Force (BSF) to flush out the militants launched a massive search operation jointly.
According to the injured (SPO) at least sixty heavily armed militants along with some locals descended from the nearby hills and moved towards the police post in the cover of darkness. As soon as they reached the post they opened heavy fire from all the directions simultaneously. The firing was effectively retaliated by the cops but they were trapped in the police post due to the firing from three sides, he also said that the four cops suspected to be kidnapped were hand in glove with militants. They locked the ammunition room and dislocated SLR guns before the attack. He said the treacherous cops escaped from the post well before the pre-planned attack.
The four absconding cops have been identified as Constable Nissar Ahmad, Constable Manzoor Ahmad and SPO’s Sher Mohammad and Jan Mohammad. The deceased cops were identified as Showkat Ali, son of Bashir Ahmad of Gool, She Singh, son of Prem Singh of Sumber tehsil Rambhan, Shadi Lal, son of Tirarh Singh of Ind Gool, Farid Ahmad, Angrez Singh, Mohammad Iqbal, Khurshid Ahmad, Jathu Ram and Nasib Singh.
Panic gripped the entire area after the attack, as the people of nearby villages also heard the sound of gunshots. The whole village was engulfed in fire, which was visible from far off places. Incidentally no jawans from the nearby CRPF battalion came to their rescue, reports added.
20 YOUTH ARRESTED IN RAJOURI
March 15: Tension gripped Rajouri town when at least thirty-sixty cops appeared in the Rajouri town and resorted to cane charge and ransacked the shops in the heart of the town. The cops also detained two-dozen youth for their alleged involvement in an assault on Station House Officer (SHO) Rajouri, Hamid Choudhary. Cops ransacked half-a-dozen shops at General Bus Stand including the shop of Ashhwani Khajuria, a trader, who was killed in Rajouri bomb blast and arrested his relatives for indulging in arson.
Those arrested by the police were identified as Mustafa Dar, son of Wali Mohammad Dar, Ravi Dutta, son of Ram Avtar Dutta, Shammi Dutta both relatives of Ashwini Khajuria, Parveen Bali, Hazi Baba, Mucha (owner Dar Pan House), Papu Dar, son of Sattar Dar and Tariq Ahmad all residents of Rajouri. Ashok Kumar Gupta was seriously injured and was hospitalized.
In charge SHO, Inder Singh Jasrotia and Police Post Incharge Rajouri Chib led the police squad under the supervision of Dy. S.P (H.Q) Haq Nawaz Shah and S.P.O, R Bhat. SSP Rajouri, P R Manhas, monitored the whole operation.
Meanwhile, residents of Nowgam clashed with police and army personnel when they came to arrest a local youth in fake case. At least fifteen persons were injured in the clash.
HINDU MILITANT GETS ‘MARTYR’S’ BURIAL
Kuldip Bhagat alias Akhtar Ansari the first Hindu militant shot dead by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on March 17 was buried according to Muslim rites at the “Martyrs graveyard.”
“As he had joined the militants, we asked the Muslims to do whatever they wanted to do with his body,” said Ghambir Chand an uncle of Kuldip. Interestingly, Ghambir’s son, Baldev, is also a militant and he is at present, a self-styled sector commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Doda district.
While the slain militant’s elder brother, Balkrishan, expressed ignorance as why Bhagat joined militant ranks, some locals in the area alleged police atrocities drove him towards it. Local police officers, however, said that Kuldip and his cousin, Baldev, were petty criminals who had crossed the Line of Actual Control (LOC) for “militant training”.
However, locals point out loopholes in the police version, saying the cousins belonged to families, who were themselves victims of militant violence. They had migrated from their original village of Badni to Puneja due to fear of the militants nearly two years ago.
Ghambir Chand also echoes the police version and said that militants abducted his son, Baldev when he had taken cattle to the nearby forests for grazing. “When he escaped from captivity and reached home after 10 days, I personally took him to the nearby security forces camp for questioning. He was kept there for two months and was later handed over to the Bhaderwah police,” he added.
“A week later, when I checked with the SHO about his status, he asked me to take him home, I planned to purchase two ponies to make him earn a livelihood, but he was picked up by the Special Task Force immediately after we reached home. I don’t know what happened later as Baldev never returned after he was let off”, he said, adding that Kuldip also disappeared two months later. “We came to know from others that both had joined the militant ranks”, he said. Since then they have had no contact with both of them. Police said they were persuading Gambir Chand to convince his son Baldev to surrender. “He is not involved in any killing and we want him to return to the mainstream before he gets involved in any major militant activity”, a senior police officer said. Gambir Chand, however, expressed his helplessness. “To bring my son, I had gone to Ramdund forests, nearly 40 km from Bhaderwah last July-August, I spotted Baldev, accompanied by two foreign militants who threatened to kill me if I talked to him. I returned, back”, he said adding that was the last time he had seen his son.
SECURITY FORCES USE CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELD
March 6: Rashtriya Rifles (R.R) allegedly killed two persons including a teacher at village Kawacheck near Kreeri, Pattan in district Baramulla of North Kashmir. The incident triggered demonstration in the area.
The residents of the area took to the streets to protest against the brutal killings of the innocents, who they alleged were used as human shield by the troops while fighting a group of militants. Villagers said that there was an encounter between the army and the militants hiding in a house during which they used two innocents to protect themselves from the militant bullets. Soon after, the encounter ended, the villagers rushed to the police station where both the dead bodies were kept.
They held a Dharna (Picketing) outside the police station. The deceased were identified as Abdul Rashid, a Government teacher, and Aashiq Hussain. Their bodies were received from the debris of the house in which militants had taken refuge. However, the army refuted the allegation as baseless.
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES
*SIX KASHMIRIS DISAPPEAR FROM PUNJAB
March 15: Punjab police reportedly arrested six Banihal youth from Nowshera, Punjab, who had gone there in search of work and since then their whereabouts are not known. All the six labourers hailing from Tenka Trigam, Banihal went to Nowshera Punjab, in September 2000, and on March 15 the Punjab police allegedly arrested them. One of the disappeared labourers was found dead at Nowshera. Family members of the disappeared youth left no stone unturned in their search and finally they sought the immediate intervention of the authorities for saving their dear ones.
The disappeared youth were identified as Qasim son of Kala Gujjar, Ismail son of Ishmail Gujjar, Qasma, son of Bashir Gujjar, Alif Din, son of Kala Gujjar, Atta Mohammad son of Haleen Gujjar and Reyaz Ahmad, son of Allam Gujjar.
* TWO STUDENTS DISAPPEAR
March 12: Two college students were picked up by gypsy borne policemen form their locality at Panzwalpora, Zoonimar, of downtown Srinagar. The duo was identified as Munawar Mehtaj Najjar and Gowhar Ahmad Mir of Pazwalpora, Zoonimar. Both are students of first year. A report has been lodged with the police chowki, Zadibal, which falls under the jurisdiction of police station, Soura.
*TWO BOYS DISAPPEAR
Two youngsters were allegedly arrested and later made to disappear in Border Security Forces (BSF) Personnel custody.
March 19: BSF raided one of the houses of Radio Colony, Ikhrajpora in Jawaharnagar and arrested two teenagers Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh, 18, a painter by profession and Arshad Ahmad Sheikh, 15, during a raid, and since then nothing has been ascertained about their whereabouts. Family sources alleged that they were arrested only because their elder brother is active with ongoing militancy and whose whereabouts are not known for last five years.
The family approached the higher authorities for help in locating the whereabouts of their disappeared dear ones but all in vain. They sought the immediate intervention of Chief Minister in this matter.
DESPITE 1,000 DEATHS, ARMY STILL REIGN HIGH
Though militancy has exacted a heavy toll on the armed forces, with over 1,000 soldiers losing their lives in militant attacks in the last three years, Army officer say the “killing ratio” is still overwhelmingly in favour of the security forces.
A rough calculation of the latest figures show that the soldier to militant kill ratio in Jammu and Kashmir, on the whole hovers around 1:5 occasionally even going up to 1:10 during some months.
“The recent increase in the number of specially trained battalion of the counter insurgency force, the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), has strengthened anti-militancy operations in Jammu& Kashmir, since infiltration from across the border is expected to go up in the coming summer months”, said an officer.
Incidentally, the new division level “Uniform Force” with around 10,000 soldiers has begun operating in Udhampur district. Four similar forces “Delta” (Doda district), “Kilo” (Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar), “Romeo” (Rajouri and Poonch) and “Victor” (Anantnag, Pulwama and Budgam) are already engaged in “seek and destroy operations” in other parts of the state. According to figures tabled in Parliament 982 army solders were killed and 2,507 injured “due to militant action” in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) from January 2000 to Feb 2003. Sixty-five soldiers were killed in the northeast in the same period.
Army officers, in turn, say that well over 15,000 militants have been “neutralized” in J&K alone since 1990. In 2002, 1522 militants were killed in the state while the tally was 1432 in 2000. “Over 60 percent of them have been foreign mercenaries”, said an officer.
“The stepped up pressure against militants will not allow them to consolidate and establish new bases, giving the J&K government enough room to maneuver. The strategy is to target the leadership of the militants”, he added.
IED BLASTS
* SEVEN ARMY MEN INJURED IN IED BLAST
March 8: Seven army men sustained injuries; and three of them critically, in an explosion at Khari, which falls under the jurisdiction of police station Banihal. Police alleged that the IED explosion was the handiwork of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.*FATHER, DAUGHTER ROASTED ALIVE IN AN IED BLAST
March 13: A five-year-old girl, and her father were roasted alive and at least twenty-five other sustained injuries in an Improvise Explosive Device (IED) explosion, planted inside a passenger bus at General Bus Stand, Rajouri.
At around 10:50 AM, while passengers were embarking the bus, an IED went off, which was planted inside the bus plate No. 4585/ JK02D. The power of the blast was so high that the buses parked near the unfortunate passenger bus were also extensively damaged. Soon after the blast, the bus caught fire, which made the rescue operation more difficult.
The police party and fire brigade forces visited the scene later and had to face the ire of the people present on the spot. The gathering pelted stones, injuring Station House Officer (SHO), Rajouri, a couple of cops and half-a-dozen fire brigade employees. The police had to resort to aerial fire and tear smoke shells to control the mob.
The shopkeepers and the passengers of other buses joined the rescue operation and victims were removed to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital for treatment, where the doctors declared two of the injured dead. The deceased were identified as Mushtaq Ahmad, a beggar and his five-year-old daughter.WHETHER HE IS DEAD OR ALIVE LET ME KNOW A FATHER PLEASE FOR HIS SON
March 21: Mohammad Jabbar, a peasant hailing from Magam Pahaldaghi, 3 kms away from Handwara (South Kashmir) approached the office of Public Commission On Human rights (PCHR) and recalls the tale of the disappearance of his son and the problems that followed it.
According to Jabbar
“I have only one and a half kanals of land where I work and support the minor children of my disappeared son. My son, Fatha Mohammad, 26, was a textile-hawker and used to visit different villages of district Handwara for selling clothes. Sometimes, he used, to return back after 2 or 3 days.
On August 15, he went to Krumbura (near by village) with his bag of cloth and when he didn’t return after four days, I started worrying about his well being and visited different villages of Handwara but found him nowhere.
On the next day, I filed an FIR in the Handwara police station regarding the disappearance of my son. The police suggested I visit the security forces camps, which I did. In every camp the answer was same “we have not arrested any such person”. My son is neither a militant nor a security forces helper, than why he disappeared? Who abducted him? Krumbura is highly deployed by the troops and I believe that security forces are behind the disappearance of my son. I even went to Kot Bhalwal and Hiranagar jails but all in vain.
Fatha’s daughter was only 3 years old at the time of the disappearance of her father and, his son was born three months after his father’s disappearance. Five days back on March 13, Fatha’s wife married a youth of our area and left her children to their fate. The agony and misery of my son’s children is too hard for me to bear”
News-in-Brief
*TWO BOYS KILLED AND TWO RECEIVE INJURIES
March 5: Two boys were killed when Rashtriya Rifles (RR) troopers allegedly send them to ask militants to surrender before them. The incident took place at Kawachak, Kreeri in Pattan area of Baramulla district in south Kashmir.
The RR troopers on the tip-off about the presence of militants in one of the houses of Kawachak encircled the house and send six local boys to ask the militants to surrender. But the militants allegedly opened fire resulting in the killing of two boys and injuring two others. Thereafter, an encounter between militants and RR took place in which the RR claimed to have eliminated three militants.
*YOUTH BEATEN TO DEATH
March 15: A group of unidentified persons armed with guns barged inside the house of Fayaz Ahmad, son of Hashmat Gujjar of Magota, Jammu, and later killed him in a cold blood The gunmen, heaved Fayaz Ahmad out of his house and took him to some unknown destination, where he was ruthlessly hammered to death. Police alleged that it was the handiwork of militants active in this area.
*CIVILIAN KILLED BY BSF
March 20: Unidentified person hurled a grenade towards a Border Security Forces (BSF) bunker at Victory Crossing at Khanyar, Srinagar, but it missed the intended target and exploded without causing any damage. Right after the blast BSF allegedly opened fire indiscriminately on the pedestrians resulting into the death of a civilian on the spot and injuring many others. The deceased civilian was identified as Mohammad Afzal Chowdhary son of Ghulam Rasool resident of Karpora, Rainawari. However, police said that the civilian was killed because of the grenade explosion.
*WOMAN HALF-BURNT BY SUSPECTED MILITANTS
March 26: Sharifa Bi, wife of Mohammad Hussain was set on fire by suspected militants in remote village of Mandi. Gunmen allegedly barged inside the house of Mohammad Hussain and told the inmates, that Sharifa was working as an informer for security forces. They put her on fire, and later extinguished the inferno to let her die in pain.
Sharifa was shifted to Sub District hospital where her condition was declared serious and was battling for life.
*COUPLE STRIPPED AND BEATEN UP
March 8: A car was smashed and the couple inside was beaten and stripped allegedly by the police at Lal Chowk, the hub of Srinagar city, while they were traveling from Harwan to their home. The boy was arrested and the girl was taken to the hospital.
At around 9:00 a.m, Gypsy borne policemen allegedly intercepted a Maruti car at Lal Chowk, and dragged out a boy and a girl out of it, who were on their way to home after returning from a coaching centre in Harwan area. “Policemen after stopping the car, dragged them out, and were beaten and their clothes were torn”, said an eyewitness, on the condition of anonymity.
The passer-byes protested against the police action. The injured girl was taken to the hospital, and the police arrested the boy. The police allegedly tried to coerce the father of boy not to register case against the culpable policemen. But he refused to oblige them. However, I.G. police, K Rajindra, refuted the allegation as baseless. He said that police party after investigating a case in Harwan signaled the car to stop. The duo inside the car defied the police signal, which forced the police to chase the car and at Lal Chowk the car was intercepted. The accusation on police of stripping and beating the couple was hyperbole.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SSP) confirmed that the accused police party had been suspended. It was also confirmed that the policemen neither beat nor stripped their clothes. The police party cashed and intercepted them only when they were not cooperating with the police.* UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN CHOP OFF NOSES OF SEVEN PERSONS
March 28: In a gory incident, unidentified gunmen chopped off noses of seven persons of two families in remote area of Rajouri district.
In a remote village of Rajouri district known as Panihad, a group of unidentified gunmen eight in number forced their entry in two different houses and chopped of noses of five persons including a woman. The motive behind this incident was not established.*FIVE FAMILIES MIGRATE DUE TO ATROCITIES IN SOGAM
March 30: Security forces allegedly unleashed a rein of terror in Sogam area of Kupwara district, which forced five families of the area to leave their homes. The killing of security forces Captain, Dinesh Singh, sent his men on a rampage and they thrashed the inhabitants of the area. Villagers were beaten up ruthlessly and when women folk protested against the atrocities, they too were beaten.
Five families of the area migrated because of the atrocities committed by the security forces on them. There are fears of more migration in the area if the excesses do not come to an immediate end.* SPO KILLS SISTER AND INJURES MOTHER
March 21: In a unique incident, a Police Officer (SPO), shot dead his sister and injured his mother when he opened fire on them at their rented house in Samote area of Surankote, Poonch. At the time of the incident, the SPO was said to be under the influence of alcohol.
Police said that the SPO Javaid Iqbal fired at his mother and sister and later shot at his foot to camouflage the incident. The gunshots, grabbed the attention of the neighbourers, who rushed towards the scene, and shifted the injured to the local hospital. While the mother managed survival, Javed’s sister succumbed to her injuries. The SPO was shifted to Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The deceased was identified as Parvez Akthar and the injured mother of SPO as Rehmat Bee.
KILLINGS IN THE MONTH OF MARCH
Date
Soldiers
Militants
Civilians
Others
Mar 1
-
-
2
-
Mar 2
-
2
-
-
Mar 3
-
3
1
-
Mar 4
1
5 (1 former)
1
-
Mar 5
-
6
2
-
Mar 6
-
3
3
-
Mar 7
-
2
-
-
Mar 8
-
1
1
-
Mar 9
-
1
1
-
Mar 10
2
2
2
-
Mar 11
-
6
2
-
Mar 12
-
4
-
-
Mar 13
4
-
8
-
Mar 14
7(1 DSP)
12
3
1 political activist
Mar 15
-
3
1
-
Mar 16
11
3
2
-
Mar 17
5
13
1
-
Mar 18
-
1
1
-
Mar 19
1
1
-
1army informer
Mar 20
2
2
1
1 political activist
Mar 21
4
4
1
-
Mar 22
3
3
8
1 renegade
Mar 23
1
10
2
-
Mar 24
-
5
25
-
Mar 25
4 (2 army captains)
3
2
-
Mar 26
-
-
2
1 security forces informer
Mar 27
2(1 army major)
5
3
-
Mar 28
1
2
2
-
Mar 29
1
7
1
-
Mar 30
-
1
2
-
Mar 31
-
10
-
1 Renegade & 1 political activist
Total
49 (4 officers)
120
80
7
Date
Extra Judicial Executions
Women Killed
Children Killed
Alleged Disappearances
Mar 4
-
1
-
-
Mar 8
-
1
-
-
Mar 10
1
-
-
-
Mar 11
-
-
1
-
Mar13
-
-
2
-
Mar 15
-
-
-
6
Mar 16
-
2
-
-
Mar 19
-
-
-
2
Mar 21
-
1
-
-
Mar 23
-
2
-
-
Mar 24
-
11
2
-
Mar 27
-
1
-
-
Total
1
19
5
8
WOMEN-CHILDREN KILLED
March 4: Unidentified gunmen attacked one of the residential houses at Yaripora in Kulgam area of Islamabad, which resulted into critical injuries of two women there.
Later on one of the injured women succumbed to her injuries. The deceased was identified as, Zaitoon daughter of Abdul Khaliq Mir.
March 8: A woman identified as, Fatima Begum who received the injuries in a shoot out at Yaripora, Kulgam of district Anantnag succumbed to her injuries after a week.
March 13: Two minors were killed in two separate violent incidents. Daughter of one Mushtaq Ahmad was killed when an IED went off at Rajouri town of Jammu province.
In another incident, a 7th class student lost his life, when he accidentally stepped over an IED at village Doodoute of District Doda. The deceased has been identified as Khushi Mohammad son of Noor Mohammad r/o village Doodoute.
March 16: Soldiers of 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) allegedly killed a woman when she was roaming around their camp at Nowgam area of Banihal. Her identity was not established but it was confirmed that the deceased was not mentally well.
In another incident, a woman was killed in a shoot out at Gool-Gulangarh area of District Udhampur. The identification of woman was not established.
March 21: An SPO opened fire indiscriminately at Samote in Surankote area of Poonch in inebriant state, which resulted into the death of his sister and injuries to his mother. The deceased was identified as Parveen Akthar.
March 23: Two women were killed in cross border shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops near Line of Control (LoC) at Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. The deceased women have been identified as Rajwanti and Raj Devi both resident of Makari village, Nowshera.
March 24: Unidentified gunmen gunned down 24 persons of minority community including eleven women and two children after assembled them into a compound at Nadimarg area of Shopian.
March 27: Unidentified gunmen killed a couple after forced their entry inside their residential house at Malikpora Vilgam. Gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on the inmates resulted into on the spot death of both husband and wife. The deceased woman has been identified as Shabana wife of Mohammad Amin Margay.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS MARCH
Mar 1: Two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 2: Two militants were killed by troops near Line of Actual Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector of
Poonch district.
Mar 3: Three militants and a civilian died in different violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 4: Four militants, an ex-militant, a police constable and a woman were killed in various violence
related incidents across the state.
Mar 5: Six militants and two boys were killed in separate violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 6: Three militants and three civilians were killed in various violence-related incidents across the
state.
Mar 7: Two militants died in violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 8: One militant and a civilian were killed in various violence related incidents while a woman
succumbed to her injuries in the state.
Mar 9: One militant and a civilian died in violence related incidents in the state.
Mar10: A soldier, a Special Police Officer, two militants and two civilians were killed in various
violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 11: Six militants and two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 12: Four militants were killed in separate violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 13: Four civilians including a minor were killed in an IED blast and thirty-eight others sustained
injuries some of them critically in Rajouri town.
* :Four civilians were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
* :Four soldiers were killed in exchange of fire with Pakistani troops near Line of Control.
Mar 14:Twelve militants, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), five cops, a CRPF jawan, three
civilians and a National Conference activist were killed while half-a-dozen received injuries in
various violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 15: Three militants were killed in separate violence related incidents across the state. However, a
civilian succumbed to his injuries received in a shoot out at Poonch district yesterday.
Mar 16: Nine cops, two Village Defence Committee members, two women and three militants were
killed in separate violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 17: Thirteen militants, five soldiers and a civilian were killed in separate violence related incidents
across the state, meanwhile, three dead bodies including of two cops were recovered from
separate places.
Mar 18: Militant and a civilian died in violence related incidents across the state while police recovered
a dead body of a youth from Chakoora, Shopian in Pulwama district.
Mar 19: Soldier, a militant and an alleged army informer were killed in separate violence related
incidents across the state.
Mar 20: Two militants, army jawan, a Special Police Officer, a People’s Democratic Party activist and a
civilian died in separate violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 21:Four militants, three soldiers, a Special Police Officer and a civilian were killed in separate
violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 22:Three militants, four civilians, three soldiers and a pro-government militant were killed in
different violence related incidents across the state.
* : Four civilians were allegedly killed by Pakistani shelling at Dot village of Karna sector.
Mar 23: Ten militants, a CRPF jawan and two women were killed in various violence related incidents
across the state, while police recovered a dead body of a youth at village Wahipora in
Pulwama district.
Mar 24: Five militants and a civilian died in violence related incidents across the state.
* : Twenty-four civilians including eleven women and two minor of minority community were
gunned downed by unidentified gunmen in Nadimarg area of Shopian.
Mar 25: Four soldiers including two army Captains, three militants and two civilians were killed in
various violence related incidents across the state. The body of a chemist identified as Irfan
Majeed Sheikh was recovered from Ashajipora.
Mar 26: Security forces informer and two civilians died in separate violence related incidents across the
state.
Mar 27: Two-army jawan including an Amy Major, five militant and three civilians including a couple
were killed in various violence related incidents across the state.
Mar 28:Two militants, a soldier and two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents
across the state.
Mar 29: Seven militants, a soldier and a civilian died in various violence related incidents across the
state.
Mar 30: Militant and two civilians were killed in various violence related incidents across the State
while two persons were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from Pota Gala area of Nowshera
in Rajouri district.
Mar 31: Ten militants, a People’s Democratic Party activist and a renegade died in separate violence
related incidents across the state.
The Informative Missive
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