The Informative Missive Published by PUBLIC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Editorial          INSTITUTIONAL REPRESSION

    Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) bars only prosecution and not the investigation. Notwithstanding the operation of the draconian law, the police have full powers to file First Information Report (FIR’s) against the law enforcing agencies involved in killings, enforced disappearances or extra judicial executions of non - combatant citizens.

    Legally speaking: - The present conflict is a law and order problem. The security forces requisitioned by the state have to subordinate the police organisation as law and order being state subject falls within the state domain. The police have all the powers to call any official for questioning during investigation. It is mandatory for officials to appear before the police. And non-compliance constitutes penal offence, after completing the investigations they have to seek sanction under section 6 of AFSPA from the federal government. What happens in reality, the police at the outset refuse to register FIR’s against the army officials due to the implicit orders from the higher authorities not to do so or due to fear and in some cases where they are forced to, due to the public demonstrations. They seldom complete the investigations. They never record the statement of the witnesses. There are thousands of uninvestigated cases pending in the police stations. In lot of cases where the relatives have filed petitions with the help of Human Rights organisations before the High Court against the inaction of the police agencies, the High Court has issued interim or final orders directing the police agencies to complete the investigation, and in some cases within the stipulated period. Still nothing happens. In contempt petitions against police they are responding that there is no co-ordination from the army agencies during investigations. They have been impressing the High Courts that they have done they all could do. They have made correspondence with the army authorities for providing the details of the culpable army official / person but there is no response from them. The non co-ordination between the police agencies and the army headquarters hampers in completing the investigation is what police claims. Even in the case of slain Human Rights activist Jalil Andrabi, the police have filed the case in the court of Chief judicial magistrate - Budgam without presenting the accused Major Avtar Singh. Expressing their helplessness in locating the officer, also doesn’t assert itself. The judiciary, which is a custodian of the civil liberties of the citizens, also doesn’t assert to seek accountability from the perpetrators, with the result that the frustrated consumers of justice in the state of helplessness stop perusing the cases. Some determent relatives braving the odds approach the press for highlighting their plight.

    It is unlikely that in a state of Jammu & Kashmir where half of the army of the country has been deployed to restore Law and order equipped with draconian powers giving them the impunity could assist the police functionary. It is vice versa. The ratio of the army and the police persons is 8:1 and common sense never buys the thing that the army could be controlled, supervised by the state police or state police can force them to comply their legal requirement during investigations. Why police only, even the higher state functionaries are helpless in the policing and non-policing matters. We have the illustration of a minister who submitted resignation to the present government in protest against the uncalled behaviour by an army official. The state even don’t bothers for a fig leaf to claim that the “law and order” is state subject and the police functionaries are doing their duties according to the law.All it concludes that there is a systematic and institutional repression and it is pervasive and deliberate.

J&K BAR ASSOCIATION VISITS JAILS

June 16: Kashmir Bar Association visited again different jails on 18th June, to monitor the conditions of the detenues/prisoners. They visited Kot Bhalwal Jail Jammu, Sangroor Jail Punjab and Tihar Jail Delhi, where they interviewed the prisoners and completed a report, which was later presented to the press. The Bar Association in its report expressed concern over the condition of the prisoners including those suffering of medical negligence. In this behalf, Bar Association highlighted the death of one Shabir Ahmad Dar.

    The team observed that the death of Shabir Ahmad Dar, whom jail authorities claimed to have died of “brain haemorrhage” on June 8th 2004, was actually a case of medical negligence on part of the jail authorities.

    The jail inmates vehemently blamed the doctors for not treating Shabir at the right time. In another case, one Abdul Khaliq s/o Wali Mohammad Shafi lodged in Varanasi jail is at advanced stage of TB however, has not been hospitalised till date.

    Already the Bar in its previous report had observed that there is no medical care to the detainees and the death of Shabir Ahmad Dar had vindicated the stand of the bar. On 18th June, the Bar visited the Tihar jail, comprising of 9 sub jails, each having its separate jail superintendent. In Tihar Jail every Sub jail has 8-10 wards in which the detainees are kept in alphabetic order. There is also a separate jail for the women under trails /detenues/prisoners.

The list of the Detenues from Pakistan Administered Kashmir and Pakistan

Jodhpur Jail

Syed Khalid Hussain Bukhari S/o khadim Hussain - PAK

Sofi Kamal - PAK

Mohd Shafiq Malik alias Abu Jandal - Pakistan

Ab Rouf Kashmiri - PAK

Dilawar Khan - PAK

Sultan Miyana - Punjab Pakistan

Ayub Sukhi - PAK

Farooq Raja s/o Mohammad Shair Khan - PAK

Naini Allahabad Jail

Mohd Ishfaq Rajput s/o Khadim Hussain r/o Sailkot Pakistan

Raza-ullah Akhoon s/o Ahmmed Din r/o Gujjarawala Pakistan

Sajad Sajid s/o Akbar Khan PAK

Asaddulah Qadri - Pakistan

Iftikhar khan Rana - Pakistan

Hafiz Sallaudin - Pakistan

Varanasi Jail

Syed Habibullah Bukhari s/o Nawab Shah Pakistan

Raja Zamir Ahmed - Gujjarwala Pakistan

Mir Hamza s/o Shah Wali - PAK

Abdul Khaliq s/o Mohammad Shafi - PAK

Sajid Bukhari - PAK

Agra jail

Kudratullah s/o Asmatullah - NWFP Pakistan

Amjad Ali chat s/o Khurshid Ali - Punjab Pakistan

Mohd Yousuf Khwaja - PAK

Mohd Ajmal Chopan - Punjab Pakistan

Lala Basharat - PAK

Hazari Bagh Jarkhand

Suhail Khatharya - PAK

Liqat s/o Dil Aram - NWFP Pakistan

Naweed Anjum - PAK

Mohd Umer Kashmiri - PAK

District jail Jammu

Wali Mohd s/o Mohammad Ibrahim, r/o Pakistan

Showkat Ahmed s/o Nazir-ullah Pakistan

Naseerullah Mansoor s/o Mohd Shafi Pakistan

    According to the report nearly 12, 000 people are detained there, in which 40 are Kashmiris. In sub jail No 1 out of 2000 detainees’ under trails, 10 of them are either from Kashmir or Pakistan. The Kashmiris detained there are Mirza Iftikar, Mohammad Kumar and Bilal Ahmad Dar and Ghulam Mohammad Dar.
The Kashmiri detainees recounted before the team that in the ward of the jail no. 1, all the detainees under trails are lodged together, whereas Kashmiris and Pakistanis are lodged in 10 - 6 feet cells and they are only allowed to go outside the cell twice a day. And the rest of the time they have to spend inside the cell in scorching heat. There is a differential treatment to the Kashmiris and Pakistanis. They have been kept under high security wards and are taken to courts in barred vehicles. The food (twice in a day at 10:30 and 5:30) provided to them, includes 1chapatti, 1 dal and 1 vegetable, which hardly suppress their appetite. Besides, revealing their problem meted out to them in the jail, the detainees complained of discrimination. The Kashmiri detenues are negated of many facilities as compared to the non-Kashmiris. To meet Kashmiri detainees, their families have to seek permission ten days prior, which is seldom granted.

    In Sub jail No. 2 there are a 1400 detainees out of which 7 are Kashmiris namely, Mohammad Afzal Guroo, Mohammad Azgar, Mohammad Ahmad, Javaid Ahmad Munshi, Farooq Ahmad, Nazir Ahmad and Ali Mohammad Bhat.

    Mohammed Afzal Guroo who was accused of involving in Indian Parliament attack has been convicted to death sentence. Mohammed Ahmad was awarded for life imprisonment, Javaid Ahmad for 17 years and the rest three are under trails.

    All of them are put in the cells and are getting the harsh treatment in sub jail no. 1. Their inmates stated to the team that few months back, a detenue from Kishtwar namely Mushtaq had died due to doctor’s negligence.

    Afzal Guroo further divulged to the team that he was awarded death sentence but he never wept or cried. It was the split in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which made him to weep bitterly, as he was concerned about the 90,000 sacrifices of Kashmiri people. He appealed the team that the leaders should prove their maturity and sincerity. He further stated that his life sentence has not shaken his faith from the Kashmiri movement.

    In sub jail No. 6, which comprises 10 wards meant for women. In these wards, out of 562 women prisoners, only one Kashmiri women Zamrooda Anjum was detained who stated before the team that she is prepared to face any hardship for the liberation and is not demanding any concession from the jail authorities.

    She further added that she is a political prisoner and nothing was proved against her. The worst thing for her is that she has been lodged in a cell where prostitutes in Suppression of Immoral Trafficking Act (SITA) and women drug peddlers are lodged. She further recounted before the team that she is facing unendurable hardship. Anjum added that on 26th of January (Indian Republic Day) and on 15th August (Indian Independence Day) she faced the worst treatment. She is thoroughly humiliated by the other women prisoners particularly when there is any cricket match going between India and Pakistan. She being lone Kashmiri in the ward is humiliated, insulted and some time threatened by the inmates there. In the sub jail no. 3 and 4 also there are Kashmiris and Pakistanis – Showkat Ahmad Guroo, Farooq Khan, Abdul Gani Goni, Saif-ud-Din and Feroz Ahmad. The authorities didn’t allow the team to meet them inspite of the court order, which they didn’t honour.

    On 19-06-04, the team visited Sanroo Jail Punjab, once there were 300 Kashmiri detainees but this time none of Kashmiri was lodged, but 15 Pakistani nationals and Afghanis. On meeting them these prisoners stated that they have been repeatedly booked under PSA. They further stated that Supreme Court ordered on 16th April 2001 in petition no 136/2000 filed by one Nasser Ahmad of Pakistan Administrated Kashmir (PAK) and send him back.

    The other detenues in the light of the Supreme Court direction also petition the federal government for sending them to their countries. But nothing has been done so far. They are being repeatedly booked under PSA and they are not present for advisory board. Though they had appreciated the treatment of the jail authorities but equally complained of lack and carelessness of medical facilities. In protest one detenue Farooq Raja s/o Mohammad Shair Khan in Jodhpur jail is on hunger strike and is being forcibly fed. One Lala Bashraat r/o Mirpur, Pakistan administered Kashmir has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court.
Before sending the detainees to the hospital for treatment, the authorities first seek permission from the Jammu & Kashmir government. One of the inmates Mohammed Nauman Bhat’s leg was fractured, however he was not taken to the hospital. One Farooq Ahmad lost his mental balance but he too has never been taken to any psychiatric counselling.

    The team meanwhile visited district jail Jammu where there were more than 50 Kashmiris languishing since years and are booked under different offences, but seldom are they being produced before the court. Also there are non-Kashmiris and since years they have been kept there without any conviction from the courts.

SHABIR ‘S CUSTODAL KILLING
    Shabir Ahmed Dar s/o Ghulam Rasool Dar was arrested in 1998 by Rajbagh police station from his residence at Soura. Detained for one month in the Soura police station, his family was initially allowed to visit him 2 - 3 times.

    Later on he was charged of possessing a pistol at the time of arrest, due to which he was shifted to Udhampur police station. However Shabir’s family denied the allegation and claimed that he had been falsely implicated.

    During his two years detention in the Udhampur Jail, Shabir was never brought to trail in the court. After spending two years in Udhampur jail, Shabir was shifted to Srinagar jail, where his family approached the Srinagar Court for bail. Though the bail was granted, however the authorities rejected the bail and shifted him to CIK Hari Niwas. From CIK he was handed over to police station Sudhar for two months. Meanwhile, a report published in the local paper Aftab on May 31st 2003 headlined “Shabir escaped from the police station” came as a shock for the family. Inquiring his whereabouts, the family came to know from some sources that police had taken Shabir to SHMS hospital after brutally interrogating him in which he was seriously injured.

    Eyewitnesses informed the family members that Shabir was critically injured on nose as he had been bleeding profusely.

    The family rushed to the hospital but he was not found there. However a reliable source informed the family that he had been shifted to police station Nowgam. “This proves Shabir’s innocence and falsifies the police allegation that he had escaped from police custody as was reported in papers” alleged his family. With this fake report published in the local papers, the family is quite apprehensive of Shabir’s safety. “They want to kill Shabir; however luckily this time we got the information of his custody in Nowgam police station, otherwise they would claim his death in an encounter after being escaped.

    The family again approached the Srinagar Court for bail, which was readily granted. The authorities once more rejected the bail and shifted Shabir to Srinagar jail for one year. The Srinagar Central jail handed Shabir over to Nowgam police station, from where he was taken to kode Boulevard Jammu. The family went to Jammu and met him for last time on May 14, 2004.

    On 8 May 2004 the family received a phone call from Jammu claiming that Shabir had died in Jammu hospital. It was however half an hour later, they received another phone call from Soura police station, which claimed that Shabir was in Nowgam police station and was in critical condition. Panic gripped the family who on reaching the Nowgam police station was taken aback at the mockery of the police personnel. “The police personnel started laughing on us and said he was not there. Later we approached Soura police station where they said he had died in Jammu jail” alleges the family.

    Claiming for Shabir’s dead body, the family was directed to approach D.C Srinagar for the permission to get his dead body. The family then approached Javid Mir - Minister in ruling state government. “It was his involvement that we finally got Shabir’s dead body from Jammu on 11 May, 2004” said Shabir’s family. The police claimed Shabir’s death as a result of brain haemorrhage. However the family totally denied the cause as baseless.

    The family alleged that there were wounds on his head and even on the day his body was brought to home, blood was oozing out. The family also alleged that Shabir had turned black due to the torture. “Shabir’s death was a part of game plan of the police. It was for this reason that inspite of two bails he was never released and they continuously shifted him from one jail to another”, alleged his family.

    While talking to Informative Missive his ailing mother sobbed “When I met him last in jail. His nails and arms have turned black. Earlier he was fine and used to teach all other persons in jail and continued his studies as well. He was complaining of pain and made frequent request for medical check up. But he was never examined”.

    The family has moved from post to pillar but all in vain. 5 sisters, 2 brothers and mother survive Shabir. The family is in grave situation especially Shabir’s mother who laments, “Although we have lost all hope in the system still we hope that one day we will get justice”.

FORCES GUNS KILL A YOUNG MAN INJURED ANOTHER
THREE MINORS TURNES ORPHANS

On June 10, two cousins Ghulam Mohammad Mir, 30, and Fayaz Ahmad Mir, 25, of Aripal 11 km away from Tral area of district Anantnag while on their way to their fields at around 4:30 am, were allegedly targeted by the troops of 45 Rashtriya Rifles (RR). The army ambush party suspected the duo as militants and fired upon them. While Ghulam Mohammad died on the spot, Fayaz suffered serious injuries and was shifted to SMHS hospital where his condition was pronounced to be critical.

    Nevertheless, the official sources argued that both the cousins were asked to stop, but they ran away. Suspicious, the army started firing indiscriminately resulting in the death of one and injuries to other. As per the newspaper report the locals held a massive demonstration to protest what they called unjustified and unwarranted killing.

    Battling for his life, Fayaz Ahmad Mir is bedridden in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SMHS hospital, Srinagar. He is being attended by one of his relatives. A team of The Informative Missive visiting the hospital on June 11th was not allowed to meet Fayaz as per his degrading condition.

    In order to get the actual feel of the situation, The Informative Missive team went to the hospital and met one of their relatives. On anonymity the relative revealed, “Both the cousins regularly went to their fields early in the morning and sometimes would return quite late, as had been a day before.

    On that fateful day, they left their homes at around 4:30 am. The duo was totally unaware of the plot preset by the army. Without any warning the army started firing on them, resulting in the death of Ghulam Mohammad. However, it is quite strange that a common person with no defence would escape in such a situation, as the (army) claimed in their official version.

    To en-cash the seasonal opportunity both cousins had been working hard to yield the desired results. Now all there endeavour and hard work turned vain. This came as a major blow to the families of the victims of the incident.

    In view of the favourable climatic condition this year, villagers spend a lot of their time in their fields to get best crop results. So had been with the cousins who had woke up quite early on that fateful day to irrigate their land. But little did they know that they had to pay an ultimate price of their lives.

    The duo was oblivion about the ambush claimed by the army to track down the militants, about whom they had received a tip off. As soon the duo was at hundred meters distance from their homes, there were some gunshots. Apprehensive about the duo, their families got suspicious of their safety. Fayaz’s father Ghulam Ahmad Mir who is working in police rushed towards the spot.

    Reaching the spot, Ghulam Ahmed found his nephew Ghulam Mohammad lying in a pool of blood in a Nalla (stream). No sooner had he nudged him to know about his welfare, at a very little distance he found his own son Fayaz crying for the help, with blood oozing profusely out of his body. Unable to rescue the two youths, he called other villagers for help.

    The villagers, mostly relatives of the duo reaching the spot were shocked on seeing the unexpected scene. Shifting Ghulam Mohammad to the hospital was a futile exercise, since he had died sometimes later on the spot. Fayaz Ahmad in an unconscious state was rushed to the SMHS hospital in Srinagar where the doctors were not sure about his life.

    Both Ghulam Mohammad and Fayaz Ahmad were married and were shouldering huge responsibilities. Ghulam Mohammad was survived by three minor children, a cancer patient wife and old aged parents. Ghulam Mohammad’s family already faced tough time and now his killing had worsened the family condition further. The elder child of Ghulam Mohammad is of 12 years old. The entire family is in extreme shock. Unlike Ghulam Mohammad Fayez Ahmad was not shouldering any such huge responsibilities, but still his family is going through hard-times. To support Fayaz’s family his father Ghulam Ahmad Mir is a bit supportive”.

MYSTERY SHROUDS BOGUND MOSQUE ENCOUNTER
Forces claims rubbish: locals

June 11: As the Bogund mosque siege ended, a barrage of questions started pouring regarding the legitimacy of the encounter. Talking to The Informative Missive, one of the eyewitnesses on basis of anonymity revealed that on July 9, at around 5.00 a.m, a joint search operation was conducted by the army and BSF. The villagers were asked to assemble in a nearby ground. As soon as they had assembled, the army formed several teams comprising 5-6 local youths and one army guard to conduct search. The youth were mainly used as human shields for the accompanying guards.

    One such team went into the Bogund mosque for search purpose. On entering the mosque, the youth were signalled by the one of the two militants hiding in the mosque attic to move out of the mosque. However the accompanying army guard did not observe this. In order to divert the army guard and to help out the militants to escape, one of the youth pretended to fall down. In this lieu all the youth moved out while the army guard was left alone to search. Taking advantage of the situation the militants hiding in the mosque overpowered him and killed him.

    Around 2.30 p.m. there were some gunshots within the mosque that prompted both the Army and BSF to open fire. It is believed that the Moulana Ishaq Bhat (18), r/o Naibug nearly 1 km from the Bogund who had got trapped inside the mosque was injured in the firing. A bachelor, Ishaq had been the mosque’s priest for the last six months. The firing continued up to July 11, till 6.00 p.m. (nearly 52 hours). In the meanwhile it is believed that the militants escaped through adjoining water channel quite adjacent to the mosque, where their colleagues, learning that the two militants had been trapped inside the mosque, had increased the water flow.

    Around 2.00 a.m. on 11 July, the army used heavy artillery and set ablaze the mosque. The wooden mosque was raised to ground. In the incident a shrine of Najab-ud-din Bukhari was also damaged due to heavy firing and shelling. Its further believed that Moulana Ishaq Bhat was probably charred down alive in the incident.

    Just after the beginning of Bogund mosque siege the villagers were told by the army to go back to their homes except those living adjacent to the mosque.

    As soon the siege ended the people were taken aback to find the dead body of the Imam. The army put the charred dead body of the Imam in a bag and later handed it over to the villagers. Following Imam’s death on 11th June triggered massive protests against the fake encounter by the locals, demanding the militant bodies if there were any.

    Contradicting the police version the villagers alleged that there was no militant killing. “It was all staged managed by the troops of Border Security Forces (BSF) and Special Operations Group (SOG)” alleged the residents of Bogund.

    Reacting hard on the troop claims, residents of Bogund village alleged that all the drama was set in order to kill the Imam of the mosque. “If the troops claim to have killed three militants where are the bodies? The only dead body found was of Imam’s who got trapped inside the mosque while entering it to offer prayers on Wednesday (9th June) evening” reiterated a resident.

    In a press conference on Thursday (June 10th) Deputy Inspector General BSF, K. Srinivasan told reporters that “three militants, who were hiding in the Bogund mosque and later in a nearby shrine, were killed in the protracted operation that ended at 3 pm on 10th June (Thursday)”.

    However locals protested against the operation on Thursday saying that the shrine, adjacent to the mosque, was damaged by troops in mortar fire without having any ground for the attack. The residents further said that two militants, holed up inside the mosque, had escaped before the encounter.

    Besides, Imam’s killing a woman, Sitara w/o Muhammad Maqbool Dar died of cardiac failure caused by the noise of the gunfire and blasts. A seriously ill minor girl, Bisma Jan, succumbed when the combatant forces didn’t allow her family to take her to hospital.

Missing Imams killed in fake encounter

    A nightmare befell on the family inmates of Sayeed Muhammad Anwar Shah and Syed Muhammad Yasin Shah, both residents of area Baba Badruddin’s shrine 3 Kms mountainous terrain from Ganderbal Waliwada, when they came to know that the duo missing since 29th March 2004 had been allegedly killed in a cold blood by the security forces.

    35-year-old Syed Yasin Shah, s/o Late Muhammad Yasin shah, father of three and Muhammad Anwar Shah s/o Muhammad Ayub Shah (28) had been missing since 29 March 2004. Yasin was Imam in a local mosque in Chattabal Dainwari, while Anwar was Imam in local mosque in Safakadal. Talking to The Informative Missive, Yasin’s father Ayub Shah said, “Anwar, cousin of Yasin along with his mother, came to Srinagar for her treatment. While Anwar’s mother stayed with one of her relatives Waris Ali khan who is also Imam at Safakadal, Syed Anwar went to Yasin’s house. Next day, Anwar along with Yasin left their home at around 10:30 a.m. to meet some doctor. “They had to take an appointment for Anwars mother. While leaving they told me that they will be back for lunch”, recalls Yasin’s wife. When the duo failed to return back, the family apprehensive of their safety started searching for them. After couple of days, the family came to know that the duo was lifted up by some military personnel’s near Iqbal Park and were untraceable since then.

    Meanwhile on April 20, in a news report published in a local daily, army claimed to kill two Jaish-e-Muhammad militants in an encounter at Mulkul Dewar forests In Lolab near LOC. Army further identified them as Abu Faisal and Jaffar Ali and lodged an FIR claiming that two militants were killed in Lolab. The much conscious disciples in Dewar informed the inmates of both Anwar and Yasin in Ganderbal about the encounter that claimed two lives. The family skeptic went to Lal Pora police station. On seeing the otherwise mutilated photographs of the duo in the Lolab police station, the inmates identified Abu Faisal as Anwar and Jaffar Ali as Yasin. “It came as a shock for us. Inquiring of their bodies, we were told by the police officials that they had been buried”, said Ayub. Assured of their identity, the families of the missing duo went to the Divisional Commissioner with the matter.

    The relatives who smelt something fishy right since the encounter wanted to probe the killings in Mulkul forest encounter. The Divisional Commissioner asked DC Kupwara to probe the matter.

    Subsequently, SHO Lalpora was asked to present the photographs and other details of the duo killed in the encounter. Then the family approached to Divisional Commissioner and ultimately the authorities ordered to re - open the graves for identification by the family. In presence of SP, DSP, DC, army officers and doctors the graves were reopened and after identification the bodies were later handed over to the family members for last rites. The family was allowed to take the dead bodies to Ganderbal Waliwada where they were finally buried.

    Today both the families face constant fear from the 18RR army who threaten the families to again take out the dead bodies from the graves. “They came from Lolab to Waliwada Ganderbal and threaten to take the bodies back as they still claim them to be some Afghani militants.

    Talking to The Informative Missive Anwars aged and ailing mother said “We have already lost our dear ones in a fake encounter and now they wont rest them in peace. Every day is a psychological torture for us. Of and on 18RR would come and warn us to take their bodies out from the grave. We wont allow them to do this”. Even Police station Ganderbal came two - three times and said that they will take out the bodies for DNA testing.

    It has been now more than four months, for the family who’s undergoing continuous harassment at the hands of security forces. Depressed and dejected the family awaits justice.

PROTEST ROCKS KASHMIR UNIVERSITY OVER STUDENT’S ARREST

June 30: A massive demonstration was lodged by the Students of Kashmir University against the arrest of a research scholar Majid Qadri, allegedly by Special Operations Group (SOG). Amidst pro-freedom slogans, the protestors challenged DGP’s claim of Majid being a militant and sought his immediate release from "unlawful detention."

    To subdue the protestors, the Finance Minister Muzaffer Hussein Beigh assured of due action and that he would take up the matter with Home Ministry and CM.

    Majid Qadiri, a research scholar hailing form Lal Bazaar Srinagar was picked up from the house of his maternal uncle at Pampore on June 27th, by the SOG personnel. His arrest generated shock and suspicion among all circles.

    Police on June 29, had claimed that they had busted a module of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and arrested several militants who were planning to attack in different parts of India and Majid was one of them. Refuting police version the students and teachers described the allegations “baseless and a deep-rooted conspiracy to suppress the student community”.

    Majid’s sister Uzma, a Law student refuting the police claim said that everybody knew that her brother was not involved in any militant activity.

    Earlier this morning students boycotted the classes and led a peaceful procession towards the Vice Chancellor’s office, chanting slogans against the DGP and the Chief Minister. To control the mob unprecedented security arrangements were made outside VC’s office.

"If police proves Majid is a militant then they should arrest all of us as he is one among us", shouted the protestors in unison. The students encircled the VC’s office and blocked all the roads of the University.
Later the VC along with the senior police and University officials pacified the angry students and assured them that they would take up the matter with DGP and the CM.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon protestors tried to disrupt the function of the private B.Ed College in Gandhi Bhawan, where Minister of Finance Muzaffar Hussein Beigh was the chief guest. On this police resorted to baton charge resulting in the injuries to several students including a female student.

Chanting anti-government slogans the protestors tried to enter Gandhi Bhawan but were prevented by a large number of police personnel based there. Later the students submitted a memorandum to the Finance Minister seeking the release of the student and assurance for the safety of the University students.

GUNMEN KILLS 4 OF SUSPECTED MILITANT’S FAMILY
4 members of cop’s family killed

Jammu, June 10: Four members of a family including an infant were allegedly slaughtered by a group of unknown gunmen inside their residential house at village Shorafiri in the upper reaches of Morha Jamsalan, about 15 kms from Mahore in Udhampur.

    Official sources said a group of three to four militants forced their entry into the house of Abdul Rahim in the mid-night and opened indiscriminate firing on the inmates killing all four of them on spot. Deceased have been identified as Jamaal Din, 32 S/o Abdul Rahim, Shah Bano (63) W/o Abdul Rahim, Shamim Akhter (26) W/o Mohammad Farooq (daughter-in-law of Abdul Rahim) and Bilal, a one and a half year old child of Mohammad Farooq. The militants however managed to escape after the incident.

    Only four family members of Abdul Rahim were present in the house when the militants struck, the sources said, adding the militants might have anticipated the presence of two police constables in the house. Earlier, in view of the militant threats, the police personnel generally refrained from visiting their house in the native village. Later security forces visited the spot. A joint operation was launched by security forces and police to eliminate the militants involved in the killings.

    However, SSP Reasi Jagdish Lal Sharma told the reporters that two special police parties from Jamsalan and Mahore were rushed to the site of killing immediately after a report of the massacre was received. Bodies of the victims were later handed over to their families for burial, after conducting the post-mortem.Sources said Abdul Rahim’s two sons Ghulam Mohammad and Qamar Din were working in the police department as head constable and selection grade constable respectively and were posted in Mahore tehsil.

    The militants suspected that the two police constables had motivated their cousin Abdul Rasheed, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, to surrender before the security forces. Rasheed was part of a seven member militant group of different outfits, who had laid down their arms before the Army and police officers in a function at Reasi on June 1.

    Sources believed this to be a reason behind the killing of two police constable’s family. A further investigation in this regard was being carried out by the police. Meanwhile, in another incident, the militants last night damaged a religious place at Sarwa Dhar in Doda district.

    The stone built religious place was several years old and was thronged by a large number of people. Reports said that a strong resentment was prevailing among the local people against the damage caused to the religious place. A police party was rushed to the spot for investigations.

IKHWANIS TARGETS TOURIST VEHICLE

June 3: A group of Ikhwanis (pro-government gunmen) allegedly forced their entry in a tourist vehicle en route Anantnag to Pahalgam in South Kashmir.

    Reports revealed that a vehicle carrying tourists from Mumbai, while on its way from Islamabad to Pahalgam was intercepted by a group of Ikhwanis. Equipped with heavy arms, the Ikhwanis eight in number, threatened the tourists of dire consequences if they tried to move or raised hue and cry.

    "While traveling from Islamabad to Pahalgam, eight Ikhwanis stopped our vehicle and forced their entry into the bus", said one of the tourists. He further added that all the passengers on board were frightened by this incident. Boarding the vehicle, the Ikhwanis ordered the passengers to remain seated.

    "They threatened us of dreadful consequences and asked us to keep silent", the passengers said. "Chup kar ke betho. Kashmiri ka haath dekha hai? Jab padega tab samaj ayega, (Be quiet, or you will see what Kashmiris can do)", the tourists were warned.

    "They continuously talked to a person on their walkie-talkie sets. We identified ourselves as tourists but they turned a deaf ear and asked us to remain silent, to dominate us, they shouted and hurled verbal abuses on the drivers of other vehicles on way”, the group alleged.

    According to the tourists, the children travelling in the bus were scared by their behaviour and the weaponry they were carrying.

"My daughter, who had her first trip to the valley pledged not to visit Kashmir again", said one of the tourists. He further stressed, that government should curb these militia men in order to ensure more tourist inflow. "The government should take some drastic measures to ensure that such things don’t happen again as they send wrong signals outside", he added.

POLL OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO SUFFER GOVERNMENT APATHY

June 6: The two government employees injured in a landmine blast at Sumler in Bandipora on April 20th while performing their poll duty still face government apathy.

    During the first phase of elections on April 20, 2004, several employees were given the charge of polling booths at Sumler in Bandipora. During the preceding night, they were provided accommodation in a security camp at Arin, Bandipora.

    Next morning, the employees were directed to retain their baggage at the camp and move to Sumler area. "We were told to get back our baggage after completing the election duty, so we proceeded without it", they said. A police party accompanied the employees.

    A powerful mine blast triggered off en route causing injuries to two employees identified as, Mohammad Ishaq of Food and Supplies Department and a teacher, Abdur Rehman. Besides, two policemen were also injured.

    Lying in a pool of blood, they were immediately rushed to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital, Srinagar. After undergoing treatment they were discharged from the hospital.
"We remained bedridden for days and had to incur a lot of money on our treatment. Neither any official came to see us nor were we supported with any compensation", they alleged.

    What had been worst is that they were deprived of their entire baggage. "In this regard, we approached the concerned presiding officer, Khursheed Ahmad and police as well, to get our baggage back but in vain”, regretted the employees.

    During the election monitoring by The Informative Missive there were widespread complaints by employees posted on election duty against their maltreatment by the authorities. Even some employees complained that the food offered to them was carried in municipal vehicle, usually used for carrying dead dogs.

IKHWANI ABDUCTS SUMO DRIVER

June 16: Following the enforced disappearance of a Sumo driver by an Ikhwani, a strong protest was lodged by the sumo drivers in Kupwara district of North Kashmir.

    Identified as Ghulam Nabi Najar, while on his way to Gushi area of Kupwara district on 10th June was allegedly abducted by an Ikhwani Nazir Ahmed Khan of Munwan Lolab. The whole incident took place at the backdrop of an early rivalry, alleged the protestors.

    According to the protestors on June 6, 2004, Gulam Nabi Najar on his way to Srinagar had a squabble with an Ikhwani Nazir Ahmad Khan, reportedly working with Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK). The Ikhwani threatening to kill Najar brandished a pistol inside the travelling vehicle. Sensing danger, Najar betrothed the Ikhwani in an argument till they reached an army picket.

    On information about the incident by Najar, the army personnel took Nazir into custody and later handed him over to the Kupwara police station. However, he was soon released on his affiliation with CIK. Since then, Nazir constantly threatened Najar of dire consequences, which he finally executed on June 10, suspected the protestors.

    To pacify angry protestors, SSP Kupwara on Wednesday assured them of immediate action against the culprit responsible for the alleged kidnapping. However, protestors threatened to go on an indefinite strike, if the SSP failed to secure the release of the driver.

Grown up son reflects back on his father’s disappearance

Pulwama, June 16: "Now I am grown up and I will get justice", says Sajad Saleem, the only son of Master Mohammed Afzal Sheikh of village Muran in Pulwama.

    14 years back on the intervening night of 27-28 December, Sheikh was arrested along with four other villagers by 142 battalion of BSF stationed at Bunoora Pulwama. All of the arrested were blindfolded and taken to some unknown destination. Since that day nothing is known of Sheikh’s whereabouts. "All other members of my family were kept under lock and threatened while my father was dragged out of the house", recalls Sajad, 12 then, now a mature youth of 26 years.

    Next morning when villagers approached S.K Seth, Battalion commandant BSF, Pulwama, denied the custody of Afzal. The villagers lodged an FIR in police station Pulwama under no 79/92 u/s 365 RPC. “Few days later all the four villagers were released. However the released persons had no knowledge of Afzal”, say’s Sajad. Saja, Saleem’s mother, pleads her husband’s innocence, stressing against of him having any links with militant outfit. "He (Afzal) was a school teacher and there were no allegations on him", say’s Saja.

    She further adds "If they (security forces) need all our wealth and land, we are ready to give. But they should back my husband”.

    Sajad witness to the incident and its borne suffering has decided to go to court to seek justice. The family has already filed a suit in High Court. “Now I want to follow the case because I have grown up and I will definitely get the justice", says twenty-six year old Sajad.

    Saja on the other hand is still hopeful of her husband’s return. “I cannot say whether he is alive or not but I am sure that we will see him one day", she says.

GRENADE THROWN INTO RESIDENTIAL HOUSE, KILLS TWO

June 14: Two persons including a woman were killed when unknown persons allegedly hurled a grenade inside the residential house of Abdul Fateh Bhat at Rarem, Tangmarg in North Kashmir.

    According to eyewitnesses a day before, some unidentified gunmen cordoned off the house of Abdul Fateh and knocked at the door. Irked by no response from the inmates, he hurled a grenade inside their house. The blast resulted in the killing of Abdul Fateh Bhat, Asha Bano - Fateh’s sister and wounded Shabir Ahmad -Fateh’s son.

    Sara, Fateh’s wife was preparing meals for the family when around 9.30 pm she heard a blast. As she moved out, she saw her husband’s body drenched in a pool of blood near the door of the room adjacent to the kitchen. “He breathed his last before my eyes. As I went further ahead I saw the dead body of my sister-in-law”, broke down Sara as she recalled the tragic incident.

    Witness to the whole incident, Sara was left dumb stricken with the intensity of the blast. It was soon that she found her son severely injured, crying in pain. Sara could not resist it any more and finally started screaming.

    The blast not only damaged the material goods but also snatched the very priceless thing of life. It snatched the only bread earner of her family, her husband, and left her son badly wounded. However Sara finds her other son Farooq quite lucky as at the time of blast, he was tending the cattle’s in a nearby fields.
Hearing her screams people rushed towards Sara’s house and immediately took Sara’s son Shabir to the local hospital. However for the deteriorating condition, Shabir was shifted to the Srinagar’s SMHS hospital where he is battling for life.

    According to Sara, the police came two hours after the incident took place to douse the anger among the people. Following the incident the villagers had burnt the tyres on the road and were seething with rage.
According to villagers, security forces would often visit Sara’s house and harass the family. It was only after one of their relative got missing and was labelled as militant by the forces based in the village. “Army often used to call us to the camp and inquire about our relative. They thought we knew of his whereabouts”, Sara recalled.

    The police claimed to have lodged an FIR and started hunt for the perpetrators. The Station House Officer of Kunzer, Yaseen Ahmad Mir, refused to give any details and alleged that there were many conflicting reports regarding the incident.

    “The SDPO Tangmarg will inquire into the whole incident”, said Yaseen. He however refused to buy the popular version that the incident may be a handiwork of security forces. Till now no arrests have been made in this regard.

HOTEL OWNER GUNNED DOWN IN LAL CHOWK

June18: Unknown gunmen shot dead a hotel owner in Gonikhan area of Lal Chowk, Srinagar. The gunshots created panic in the area, and people ran helter skelter for safety.

    According to locals, the entire Gonikhan market forms hub of pedestrians. Panic gripped the area when a hotel owner was shot dead by unknown gunmen by a close range. Soon the gunshots were fired passers-bys ran helter skelter. The whole market deserted soon, amidst on the road lied a dead body soaked in a pool of blood.

    The deceased was identified as, Javaid Ahmad Mir (physically handicap) S/o Mohammad Shafi Mir of Guru Bazaar, Srinagar, who was running a small hotel in Gonikhan. According to a local news agency, KPS, the deceased was taken into custody a month back and released some days back.

    Talking to the Informative Missive Javaid’s father Mohammad Shafi said “On Friday June 18 after prayers, Javaid was working in the kitchen of his hotel, when some unidentified gunmen entered and shot him dead”.

    According to the family members, Javaid was not affiliated with any organisation. He was running a hotel. “It was very wrong news in the local papers that he was operating a travel agency and was a released militant. Two days after the report we gave a rebuttal in a local newspaper Aftab. In fact Javiad’s younger brother Jameed was running a travel agency at Abiguzar. Nearly one and a half year back, some unknown gunmen fired at him in which he got seriously injured. He had a miraculous escape. Following the incident he stopped the travel agency and started working in a hotel at Gonikhan said Javaid’s father.

    Dejected and depressed Javaid’s father fails to understand the motive behind his son’s killing. “We don’t know why this happened”. They have filed an FIR and case is now in DC’s office for SRO 43 and ex gratia. The family wants that the SRO 43 should be given to Javaid’s sister.

PEOPLE PROTEST ARRESTS

June 28: Massive demonstrations rocked Bemina and Lal Chowk area of district Srinagar against the arrests made during the past few days. The protestors raised slogans against the police and demanded early release of the arrestees.

    According to the reports, the STF carried out raids at several areas in Srinagar district and arrested Sajad Ahmad Misgar S/o Noor Mohammad R/o Bhagyas Chattabal, Mudasir Ahmad Sofi S/o Ghulam Nabi R/o Guzarbal, Chattabal and Muzamil Ahmad Dar S/o Mohammad Sidiq R/o Iqbal Colony, Sonwar. Although, Muzamil was released after sometime, Sajad and Mudasir continued to be under detention. This forced the people to come out and hold protests at Bemina Crossing this morning. The protestors also staged a sit in on this occasion.

    According to the locals, Sajad - an Imam (priest) of the mosque at Maidanpuri along with Mudasir was arrested, when they were taking out a religious congregation. Both of them were asked to come out from the mosque where the congregation was going on and taken into custody even after showing their identity cards.

    Reportedly, during these demonstrations the photographer of the News Agency Associated Press (AP) Mukhtar Khan, got badly injured in a thrashing by the police personnel of Bemina police post.

    The protestors raised slogans against the STF and government. They demanded an early release of the arrested persons, as they were not involved in any militant activity. The protest disrupted the whole traffic and it was only after the intervention from police that order was restored.

    Meanwhile, the workers of the Liberation Movement today held a demonstration in Abi-Guzar area against the arrest of its publicity secretary Latief Ahmad Mirchal. Apprehension followed as nothing was known of the whereabouts of Latief who was arrested 15 days back.

    As the protestors reached the Lal Chowk the police personnel resorted to baton charge and also arrested four workers of the Liberation Movement.

    Meanwhile, in separate incidents three persons were arrested from different parts of the valley. BSF claimed that one Mohammad Iqbal Tantray was arrested from Kachar, Handwara, while another person Mohammad Yousuf Bhat was arrested from Zanigam, Beerwah. STF claimed to have arrested Ghulam Nabi Mir from the Naidyar - Rainawari of the Srinagar city. However the reasons behind these arrests are not known.

573 FAMILIES BEING UPROOTED FOR ARMY AMMUNITION DEPOT

June 17: Nearly 573 families belonging to Chak-I-Magam, Sheerpora, Pathan Mohalla, Gujjar Pati and Shah Mohalla villages of the Kupwara district were being directed by the army to move out. In view of the decision, the apprehensions of the villagers cannot be subdued.

    According to the villagers, the army officials ordered them to vacate more than 10,000 canals of land for setting up the ammunition depot in these areas. Around 573 families of five villages are likely to be affected if the instructions of the security forces are followed. Villagers with most of them farmers find it difficult to sustain as they solely depend on their fields for livelihood. Frustrated by the instructions, villagers fear hardships.

    According to the reports, 4,000 acres of land were purchased by the army some years back, of which some portion of the payment is still pending with them. Now they demanded more land for setting up the ammunition depot. Following the Army’s instruction, villagers lodged strong protest outside the Civil Secretariat. They demanded the plan to be shelved by the security forces.

    The villagers alleged that the local authorities were paying no heed to their woes and forced them to follow the directives of the security forces. Meanwhile, the general secretary of National Conference (NC) Sheikh Nazir Ahmad expressed his concern over the instructions of the security forces. In a statement, he urged the government to probe into the matter and ensure that the villagers were not displaced from their native places.

    The NC general secretary further said that such a step would lead to un-employment in the area as the people would be rendered jobless after the productive land is taken over by the security forces. He added that drastic steps need to be taken to ensure that the villagers were relieved of the tension.

KISHTWAR NATIVES ALLEGE KILLING BY STF

June 28: One person was killed and two other injured including a teenage girl when Special Task Force (STF) personnel allegedly went on a firing spree in a remote hamlet Mangi in Kishtwar tehsil of district Doda on July 25, 2004. The injured were removed to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Ghulam Nabi, 40, s/o Ghulam Mohammad Lone of Margi, while the injured included his wife Zadia, 35, and 13-year-old Shehnaz, all residents of Margi.

    One of the injured Zadia, who lost her husband in firing, alleged that at least 30 STF men came to their village at 5:30 hour’s on June 25, 2004 morning. They ordered all the villagers to come out of their houses and assemble in the fields. Following the directions, no-sooner had the villagers gathered that the STF men took at least 22 youth of the village inside some houses and started beating them mercilessly. They inquired them of the whereabouts of an injured militant whom they claimed to have been hiding in the village following an encounter at Wankadaal.

    Zadia said that the family members of the youth being beaten by the STF personnel pleaded for mercy. The STF men she alleged continued to torture them.

    “In order to escape the STF wrath, the frightened villagers decided to migrate from Margi to Marwah area of Kishtwar”, said Zadia. She further alleged that as soon as all of them started moving towards their respective residence, the STF men opened indiscriminate firing.

    Attendant of Zadia, Nazir Rather said Ghulam Nabi, Zadia and Shahnaz sustained bullet injuries in the firing of STF men. The villagers immediately shifted the injured to the primary health centre (PHC) at Marwah. Further adding he said that it took them 2 days to pass through rugged mountains passes and terrain to reach Marwah PHC where they (injured) were provided first aid.

    The villagers informed the police station Nawpachi about the incident from where the police passed on information to the district administration. The injured he said were airlifted to the GMC hospital. The condition of Ghulam Nabi, who sustained bullet injuries in his chest continued to deteriorate and finally he succumbed to his wounds on June 27. Nevertheless, conditions of two other injured was said to be improving.

TROOP’S FIRE MOTOR SHELL, KILLS 2 TEENAGERS’ PROTESTERS

June 1: Villagers in hundreds in Bandipora went on streets to protest soon they learnt about the killing of a boy and a girl allegedly at the hands of troops.

    As per the English dailies, 16-year-old Shabir Ahmad Khan s/o Dori Rehman Khan and 15-year old girl Zahida Bano d/o Muhammad Maqbool (according to troops Muhammad Iqbal) were hit by a mortar shell, allegedly fired by the troops of 14 Rashtriya Rifles posted at Chunti Mohalla, Bandipora. Both the teenagers died. The duo was herding the cattle for grazing in Gujjar Pati, Bandipora area of Baramulla district on May 31 afternoons.

    The protestors alleged that a patrol party of the troops of 14 RR unnecessarily fired mortar shells towards the duo. The protestors while raising anti-India slogans took the bodies of the deceased to the nearby police station and demanded an FIR to be lodged against troops. As a mark of protest a strike was observed in the area.

    A spokesman of Kilo Force denied the allegations saying that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants, probably to target the patrol party of troops, went off accidentally when the duo ran over it. He further said that troops had intercepted a wireless message of militants informing their seniors that “the box (Explosive Device) had gone waste”. The daily police bulletin on violence reported the incident, as an accident propelled by the militants to targets the forces on petrol.

DISAPPEARANCES

BOY DISAPPEARS
June 6: Irfan Ahmad Bhat S/o Abdul Aziz Bhat R/o Makhdompora, Magam presently residing at Soura, Srinagar has been reportedly missing since 4th June 2004. He disappeared after leaving his Soura residence on 4th June.

Forces disappear two
June 12: Two persons were allegedly taken into custody by the security forces at Gondroos in Beerwah Budgam. The arrestees were identified as Abdul Majid s/o Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh and a 10th standard student, Irshad Ahmed Mir s/o G.A Mir. Reports said that the duo was taken into custody by forces after conducting a raid at their respective residences. Since then nothing is known about their site of detention.

Protest in Sopore after youth's disappearance
Srinagar, June 20: Scores of people came out on the streets of Sopore town and held massive demonstrations against the custodial disappearance of a youth, who was picked up on June 16 by unidentified forces. According to the reports, 26-year-old Mohammad Latief Mirchal r/o Hardushiva-Sopore was taken into custody at around 11:30 p.m. by a group force personnel. Since then his whereabouts are yet to be ascertained. This has made the family quite apprehensive regarding the safety of Mohammad Latief.

The locals assembled outside the Sopore police station amidst slogans alleged that Latief was arrested by the forces, who now denied his arrest. The protestors in unison demanded early release of the detainee.
The protest ended up on the assurance by the police officials to locate him as well as the security forces personnel behind his disappearance.

SURANKOTE DIARY

HUMAN SHIELD
June 3: In an erroneous crossfire within the 45 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), an innocent civilian became the shield at Madha, Surankote area of Poonch district.

As per the reports, 45 Rashtriya Rifles personnel on patrol allegedly took a twenty-five-year-old Mohammad Shafi of Madha on the pretext to guide them. On their way, they mistook their own personnel as militants and started firing. In the exchange of fire Mohammad Shafi who was in front got killed. However, Shafi’s family alleged that army forcible took him away from his home and later used him as human shield.

Denying the family claims, army stated that Shafi was killed in crossfire and that they had not taken him from anywhere.

MILITANTS KILLED MAN
June 30: Militants allegedly kidnapped a villager Gulzar Ahmad S/o Gani Shah of Dok Daman, Mahore and subsequently killed him.

EXPLOSIONS

3 INJURED IN GRENADE BLAST
June 4: Three persons were injured, when militants allegedly hurled a grenade towards security forces at Gulshan Chowk, Bandipora in Baramulla district of North Kashmir.

    According to official report, on June 3rd suspected militants hurled a grenade towards the security forces at Gulshan Chowk, Bandipora. It however, missed the intended target caused injuries to three passer-bys. All the injured were civilians. Among the injured, two have been identified as Shabir Ahmad Lone and Bilal Ahmad Mir, while the identity of the third could not be ascertained.

    Police claimed to have arrested the person involved in the grenade attack. He has been identified as Abdul Rashid alias Jana.

Two died in explosion
June 6: Two persons including a woman were killed in an explosion at Bandipora in district Baramulla. The deceased were identified as Shabir Ahmad and Zahida Bano. The blast occurred outside their house.

WOMAN INJURED IN LANDMINE
June 7: A woman was injured critically in a landmine explosion near Line of Actual Control (LOC) in border district of Poonch.

    Official sources said, a middle aged woman Hakima Bi, was returning to her home from a nearby field when the blast went off. The incident took place, when she happened to step over a planted landmine outside her house in Salotri village. The mine exploded, injuring her critically in her left leg. She was immediately rushed to the Poonch hospital, where her condition was stated to be critical.

GRENADE KILLS TWO PERSONS
June 14: Two persons including a woman were killed and one person was injured when unidentified persons hurled a grenade towards the house of a retired Patwari (revenue official), Abdul Fateh Bhat s/o Ghulam Ahmad of Peram Kunzer, Baramulla in North Kashmir.

    While Ashai Begum w/o Ghulam Rasool Lone, R/o Wahipora, Tangmarg died on the spot, Abdul Fateh Bhat succumbed to injuries on way to the hospital. The identity of the injured could not be ascertained. Police have taken cognizance.

10 CIVILIAN WOUNDED IN BLAST
June 15: Ten persons including seven school going children were injured in a grenade explosion allegedly hurled by militants to target Rashtriya Rifles (RR) patrol party at Frisla in Kulgam.

    Reports revealed, a grenade intended to target a patrol party of RR allegedly by militants exploded on the mid of road causing injuries to ten persons. However, three of the critically injured were removed to Srinagar hospital.

NEWS IN BRIEF

GUNMEN KILLS FATHER, SON
    Unidentified gunmen killed a father son duo on the intervening night of June 12 and 13, in Rajouri. The deceased were identified as Barkat Hussein (35) s/o Alam Din and his son Mushtaq Hussein r/o Dodarsan Bala in Rajouri district of J&K.

    According to the reports, unidentified gunmen barged into the house of a farmer Mushtaq Hussein with an intention to kill his father Barkat Hussein whom they believed to be a police informer.

    Police inputs claim that after entering the house, they started inquiring about the Barkat Hussein from Mushtaq Hussein which finally culminated into a scuffle. Within no time Barkat came out from another room and joined his son Mushtaq in argument with the gunmen for sometime.

    In between the argument, the gunmen opened fire on both of them pumping bullets into the bodies of duo, claiming both the lives. Petrified by the incident, people preferred to stay inside their homes. Next day people and security forces rushed to the spot where they found the bodies of Barkat and Mushtaq lying in a pool of blood.

    Both the slain persons were cremated by the local’s in the wee hours. However, police has taken the cognizance of the matter and the preliminary investigations have been reportedly initiated.

Headless bodies recovered
June 18: Police claimed to recover two headless bodies of Ali Mohammad Denda and Mohammad Akbar Denda residents of Zazbal, Lam from Soipathri Bahak forest of the Tral area of South Kashmir.

    According to the news agencies, the deceased had gone to the forest for grazing their cattle, when unidentified gunmen abducted them on June 17.

    Both of them were taken to an unknown destination and hatched their heads. Meanwhile, body of a woman, Gulshana d/o Mohammad Munawar r/o Baripora-Handwara of district Kupwara was recovered from Kulangam nullah. She was missing since May 5, this year, police said. Police has started investigations in this connection.

STUDENT KILLED
June 30: Killing of a 12th class student allegedly at the hands of unidentified gunmen triggered off massive protest in Bandipora village of district Baramulla.

    Reports said, at dawn unknown gunmen indiscriminately opened fire at Mohammad Hanief Lone a student, in the main town injuring him critically. Immediately, he was rushed to the SKIMS hospital Srinagar where he succumbed to his injuries. The reason behind the killing however could not be established.

    The news of his killing sent shock waves in his native village, where people in huge number resorted to protest ensued by a daylong strike.

UNKNOWN PERSONS KILL FARMER
June 30: Unidentified persons killed a farmer with sharp weapons at Fathepora, Ganderbal, Srinagar. The deceased Ghulam Mohammad Mir, while working in his field was encircled by some unknown persons equipped with axes and sharp weapons. The persons started hitting him repeatedly with those weapons. In the attack he received grave multiple injuries and died en-route to the hospital. In this connection a case vide FIR no. 78 was registered in police station Ganderbal.

FORCES THRASH RENOWNED ISLAMIC SCHOLARS
June 13: Two renowned religious scholars of the valley were allegedly beaten up by the personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) in Bandipora area of Baramulla district of North Kashmir.

    Identified as, Mufti Nazir Ahmed and Moulvi Rehmatullah, both were reportedly beaten by BSF at their hometown. This triggered a massive demonstration. Thousands of people took to streets in the township and lodged a protest against the high handedness of the forces. The protestors demanded immediate action against the troops involved in the attack on scholars. Police tried to pacify the protestors but all in vain.

BUDGAM RESIDENTS ALLEGE HARASSMENTS
June 15: A massive protest was lodged by the residents of Charangam village, after they were unreasonably thrashed by Rashtriya Rifles (RR) 34 bn. The forces reportedly not even spared women and children of the area.

    Sources said that a contingent of 34 bn Rashtriya Rifles (RR) swooped on Charangam village on Budgam-Beerwah road and dragged out all the residents for an "identification parade". Without any provocation, troops let loose a reign of terror, thrashing scores of the villagers including women and children. However, the residents put up stiff resistance and managed to call SP Budgam and other officials for their rescue.
    It was however later, only on the assurance of the SP Budgam, R K Jhalla, to investigate the matter and punish the culprits that finally pacified the angry demonstrators.

CM ORDERS ENQUIRY INTO STUDENT’S KILLING
June 5: J&K Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ordered an enquiry into the killing of a student allegedly at the hands of Border Security Forces at Neelu, Kulgam.

    The enquiry was ordered when CM spotted a villagers demonstration outside his residence, accusing BSF of killing an innocent civilian Mohammad Shafi in an unwarranted indiscriminate firing. The demonstrators reached the CM’s residence amidst anti-security forces slogans. Earlier the villagers were barred from visiting CM’s office at Pampore area of Pulwama district in South Kashmir, eventually they managed to reach there.

    The Chief Minister issued immediate orders to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take overall assessment of the situation. An order of the transfer of the BSF camp in the village was also issued by the Chief Minister.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTS DYSP TO ENQUIRE INTO REARAM KILLINGS
June 14: Government appointed a Deputy Superintendent of Police to enquire into the killing of one retired pathwari (revenue collector) Abdul Fateh Bhat and his relative Aasia of Rearam, Tangmarg.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla handed over Cheque of Rs. 2 lack to the next of kin of the deceased.

Political activist killed
June 17: Militants allegedly shot dead an active member of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Gopalpora Mattan. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Sarwar Khan, an orchardist by profession.

    In another incident, militants shot at PDP worker Ghulam Hassan at Nagam Kokarnag causing him serious injuries. He was shifted to hospital where his condition was stated to be critical.

GUNMEN KILL MAN
June 15: Suspected militant shot dead the brother of the Congress MLA, Haji Abdur Rasheed Dar at Dangarpora in Sopore area in the morning. The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Rajab Dar s/o Ghulam Mohammad Dar. Dar was reportedly working at his paddy fields when militants struck on him. The Sopore MLA too has the status of a Minister of State, as he happens to be the Chairman of the Government undertaking HPMC.

CHRONOLOGY OF JUNE INCIDENTS

June 01: One Hizb Militant and a Civilian were killed in separate incidents of violence.
June 02: Two Civilians, One Militant and a soldier were killed in different incidents across the state.
June 03: One Soldier, One Lashka-e-Toiba Militant, Two unidentified militants and an Activist of ruling
People’s Democratic Party was killed in separate incidents of violence.
June 04: Two Militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Nar Mankote police station
Mendhar and a civilian were killed in another Militant attack.
June 05: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba Militants, One unidentified Militant, One Soldier and two People’s Democratic Party activists were killed in separate incidents of violence.
June 06: Three Hizbul Mujahideen Militants, Two unidentified Militants and One civilian were killed in
separate incidents of violence meanwhile forces recovered a dead body from Gubar forest. Same Day
a Mortar Shell fired by security forces posted at Chunti Mohalla, Bandipora Killed two teenagers named Shabeer and Zahida who was taking a herd of cattle for grazing.
June 07: Molvi Mushtaq Ahmad uncle of senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq succumbed to his
injuries in Soura Medical Institute. Eight Militants and Two SPOs identified as Mushtaq Ahmad and Gulam Hassan were killed in Separate incidents of violence.
June 08: Six Militants including the deputy chief of Al-Badr identified as Ali Hasnain and district
Commander of Al-Badr Abu Hamza were killed in separate incidents of violence.
June 09: Two civilians, one soldier, one unidentified militant, one top Hizbul Mujahideen Militant and a
Lashkar-e-Toiba militant were killed in different militancy related incidents.
June 10: Six civilians, three militants and a security person were killed in separate incidents of violence.
June 11: Two army personnel including a Major, a BSF man, two J-u-M militants,
June 12: Four Indian tourists, two unknown militants and two army men were killed in separate incidents of violence.
June 13: One SPO, an alleged police informer and his son, two militants including one LeT militant, two
civilians were killed in violence related incidents meanwhile two dead bodies were recovered from
different places

* : An injured tourist of Pahalgam grenade blast succumbs to his injuries.

June 14: J-e-M militant, an unknown militant and three civilians including a woman were killed in separate
incidents of violence meanwhile a dead body of a youth was recovered from Takiya, Budgam. The
deceased was kidnapped by unknown gunmen day before.
June 15: Two HM militants, a LET militant, brother of an MLA and civilian were killed in various incidents of violence.
June 16: One PDP activist, one CRPF man and a renegade were killed in different incidents of violence.
June 17: BSF Assistant Commander, one HUJI militant, two LeT militants and PDP activist were killed in different incidents of violence.
June 18: A militant and a civilian were killed in separate incidents of violence while three dead bodies
including of a woman were recovered from separate places.
June 19: Five unknown militants and a civilian were killed in different incidents of violence.
June 20: Two HM militants and two policemen including an SPO were killed in separate incidents of
violence.
June 21: Five militants including one LeT and HM, two civilians and a renegade were killed in various
incidents of violence.
June 22: Six militants including one HM and two LeT militants were killed in separate incidents of violence related incidents while a dead body was recovered.
June 23: Five unknown militants and a LeT militant were killed in separate incidents of violence.
June 24: Twenty two wounded in Bijbehara blast, 15 seriously injured 2 militants killed in Jammu region.
June 25: 5 persons including two militants were killed and 6 injured in militancy related incidents. 1 soldier was killed and 1 girl injured in Handwara. 3 children injured in Blast Sopore.
June 26: 2 Army officers and a girl injured in a landmine blast at Arnia Sector in Jammu.

* 2 persons including a chowkidar (watchman) of PWD and R&B injured detonator blast at Rajouri.

June 27: 2 militants and a soldier were killed and an army major injured in an encounter at Litar village of
Pulwama district.

* : Unidentified gunmen shot dead 13 people including 1 VDC member, a woman and her child. 9 civilians were injured in Marha village of Poonch district.

June 28: 1 LET militant killed, 2 injured, 1 NC block president killed in Kashmir, which a dead body was recovered from Doda. 2 persons abducted by unidentified gunmen.
June 29: Three JeM, two LeT, one ITBP personnel and three civilians including a woman were killed in
various incidents of violence. Meanwhile, an unidentified dead body was recovered by police from
Wanabal, Rawalpora, Budgam.
June 30: Two soldiers, two JeM militants and three civilians were killed in separate incidents of violence
across the state.

Date	Extra Judicial Executions and Custodial Killings	Women killed	Children killed	Alleged disappearances
June 04	-			1
June 08	1 CK
June 06	-			1
June 10	1 EJK
June 11	1 EJE			1
June 16	-			1
June 18	-	1		-
June 25	1 CK			-
June 27	1 CK			-
Total	5			4

DATE	SOLDIERS	MILITANTS	CIVILIANS	OTHERS
July 1	-	1	1	-
July 2	1	1	2	-
July 3	1	3		1 political activist
July 4	-	2	1	-
July 5	1	3	-	2 political activist
July 6		5	3
July 7	2 SPOs	8	1
July 8		6
July 9	1	3	2
July 10	1	3	6
July 11	2	2
July 12	2	2	4
July 13	1	2	6
July 14		1	4
July 15		3	2
July 16	1			1 PDP activist / 1 renegade
July 17	1	3		1 PDP activist
July 18		1	4
July 19		5	1
July 20	2	2
July 21		5	2	1 Renegade
July 22		6	1
July 23		6
July 24		2
July 25	1	2	2	1 VDC
July 26
July 27	1	2	14
July 28		1	1	1 NC block president
July 29	1	5	4
July 30	2	2	3
July 31
TOTAL	21	87	64	9

SC Directions in Nasser’s case

July 1

TOTAL