CIVILIAN KILLINGS – The Kashmir Horizon

19-year old killed in Army firing in central Kashmir

K H News Service — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:34:39 +0000

Srinagar: A 19 year-old youth was killed and another was injured when army allegedly opened fire on a group of people at Beerwah in central Kashmir’s Budgam district post-Friday prayers.

Official sources told news agency GNS that the youth identified as Tanveer Ahmad Paul s/o M Akbar sustained bullet in his head when army’s 53 RR opened fire on a group of youth amid stone pelting in the area.

“In the incident another youth Ibrahim Wani s/o Ab Gani sustained bullet in his shoulder and has been admitted at JVC hospital here in Srinagar”. Tanveer was referred to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, they said.

The killing figured massive protests in Beerwah and its adjoining areas. When contacted SSP Budgam Tejinder Singh confirmed the death of youth said that a group of youth pelted heavy stones on army’s patrolling party and subsequently a sound of a blast occurred which was actually a cracker.

“The sound of the cracker mistook the army as a grenade blast which prompted them to open fire resulting in the unfortunate death”, SSP said. SSP said that a case has been registered against the army and further investigations have been taken up.

The 53 RR unit was recently in news after it tied a youth, Farooq Ahmad Dar to the bonnet of a Jeep on April 9, the day polls where held for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency which was eventually won by National Conference President Farooq Abdullah.

Army spokesperson in a statement issued here to GNS said that they opened fire on youth after stone-pelters tried to snatch the weapons. “An Army patrol was subjected to heavy stone pelting by a mob in Kondur village near Beerwah town at 1:15 pm. In no time, the numbers swelled and the intensity of stone pelting increased,” he said.

He added: “Some stone-pelters tried to close in with the patrol and snatch weapons from the soldiers. Two persons were reportedly injured when troops opened fired. One of the injured, however, later succumbed to his injuries.”

Thousands of people attended the funeral of the slain youth amid massive anti-India slogans. Police and forces resorted to teargas shelling on funeral procession of the slain. He was laid to rest amid sobs and tears and massive clashes raged in the area till late evening. (GNS)

A killing with three versions

K H News Service — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:32:58 +0000

Budgam: After the killing of a youth in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district Police and Army released their separate versions almost clashing with each other.

Police said Army opened fire in Beerwah after mistaking fire cracker sound for grenade blast while Army said some stone-pelters tried to snatch weapons from the patrol party.

People who were accompanying with wounded youth at hospital claimed that army responded with live bullets after they objected their thrashing of vendors and pedestrians.

Jammu Kashmir Police issued a press release about the killing. As per the police statement, “as per initial information received today a Foot Patrol of army was returning to its camp and near Beerwah some miscreants pelted stones on them. Someone among these miscreants also hurled a fire cracker towards the army men. Because of bang the army men thought a grenade was hurled and they retaliated. Two persons identified as Tanveer Ahmed Pala and Mohammed Ibrahim Wani were injured. Among them Tanveer succumbed to his injuries while Ibrahim is stable.”

Srinagar based Defense Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia in reaction to this killing sent a Whatsapp text to CNS that reads: “An Army patrol was subjected to heavy stone pelting by a mob in Kondur village near Beerwah town at 13:15 hours today. In no time the numbers swelled and the intensity of stone-pelting increased. Some stone-pleters tried to close in with the patrol and snatch weapons from the soldiers. Two persons were reportedly injured when troops opened fire. One of the injured, however, later succumbed to his injuries.” (CNS)

Shutdown against Dialgam killings today: JRL to people

K H News Service — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 18:26:16 +0000

Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called a shutdown on July 2, Sunday to pay tributes to two civilians and as many civilians killed in forces’ operation in Dialgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Two civilians were killed and over two dozen others injured after forces opened fire on protesters near the site of a gunfight.
Two militants, including Lashkar commander Bashir Kashkari were killed in the firefight that raged in Breithi-Batpora village.
“We appeal to Kashmiri people to observe complete shutdown tomorrow to pay tributes to those killed in Dialgam,” said a statement, issued by the JRL.

Two civilians, two militants killed in gunfight

KH Web Desk — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 14:03:43 +0000

Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and two civilians were Saturday killed during the encounter that raged between the forces and the militants in Dialgam area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said.

Sources said that following specific information about the presence of militants in Dialgam village, Police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched search operation during which the militants opened fire thereby ensued gunfight.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muneer Ahmad Khan told KNS that the two militants have been killed in the Dialgam encounter.
He said that one among the militants has been identified as Bashir Ahmed alias Bashir Lashkaree.
IGP informed Bashir Lashkaree is the militant who was behind the killing of six cops including an SHO who were killed in Achabal area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Jun 16 this year.
The Army identified second militant as Azad Ahmad alias Azad Dada of Arwani area of Bijbehara.
Meanwhile, sources informed that during the scores of people sustained injuries during the subsequent clashes that erupted in Brenty Batapora village of Anantnag district.
The deceased woman and a civilian were identified as Tahira, and Shadab Ahmed.
Both the injured had received bullet injuries and were shifted to the hospitals where they succumbed to their injuries.
“A lady was killed in the cross firing,” IGP Kashmir informed KNS, adding that one other youth has also succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
He said that two civilians who were injured are undergoing treatment in the hospital and are stable. (KNS)

Er Rasheed condemns civilian killings in Kashmir

K H News Service — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 20:53:17 +0000

Srinagar: Condemning brutal killing of Tawseef Ahmad Wani at Pulwama at the hands of security forces AIP Supremo and MLA Langate, Er. Rasheed has said that main stream political parties cannot run away from their failure to protect the lives and the properties of Kashmiris. Er. Rasheed in a statement said that security forces have no control of the political establishment and opposition has also miserably failed to play its role. He said “The main stream parties have done nothing except trying to dilute the issue and helping New Delhi in consuming time to avoid the solution. Let the main stream parties not forget that once they jumped into elections in 1996 it gave New Delhi a chance to mislead world community. However had NC and PDP the guts and sincerity to help Kashmiris they would have done enough and with a success. May one ask Farooq Abdullah who had offered to even join Huriyat during his parliament election campaign, why didn’t he spoke even a word on NIA raids. The day he became member of parliament by securing just few votes, he started his old tradition of forgetting things and helping New Delhi” Er. Rasheed added that main stream parties must force New Delhi to stop atrocities as it is the least they are capable to do, but for the want of sincerity and expecting New Delhi to get annoyed they are not moving even an inch than the traditional politics of blaming each other.

Kulgam youth injured in G’bal succumbs

K H News Service — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 21:03:13 +0000

Srinagar/ April, 17: Kulgam labourer who was critically injured in Border Security Force firing on the by-polling day in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district succumbed to his injuries in Srinagar hospital on Wednesday morning, thus taking the toll to 9. At least 8 civilians were killed on 9 April in Budam and Ganderbal district in violent clashes on by-polling day on 9 April.
The deceased Muzaffar Ahmed Mir son of Ghulam Mohiuddin, a resident of Zangalpora village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district and a local youth Omar Farooq were seriously injured when protesters clashed with Indian BSF at Barsoo area of Ganderbal district. Omar died on spot while Muzaffar, a labour by profession had a bullet injury in thigh and was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of SKIM.
After battling for life over a week, Muzaffar died in the hospital on Wednesday morning. His death took the toll to nine.
Eight youth were killed and 150 were wounded by Government Forces as large scale protests, clashes marred polling in Srinagar Parliamentary constituency. The slain youth were identified as Faizan Fayaz Dar (15), Abass Jahangir (22) of Dalwan Pakharpora, Shabir Ahmed Bhat (22) of Dawlatpora Chadoora, Nisar Ahmed Mir (25) of Ratsun Beerwah, Akeel Ahmed Wani (22) of Churmujroo Beerwah, Adil Farooq Sheikh (19) of Yarigund Kawoosa Khalisa, Amir Ahmed Rather (20) of Dadwanpora Chadoora and Omar Farooq Ganie (21) of Barsoo Ganderbal.
Witnesses said police sealed the adjacent villages of Zangalpora including Brazlo, Mir Bazar and Devsar to stop people from visiting the native village of the deceased youth. ‘The movement of the mourners was restricted to maintain law and order,” said a police official.
Witnesses added that amid police restrictions, thousands of mourners amid pro-freedom slogans participated in the last rites of the slain youth who was 25 years old and had gone to Ganderbal for laboring.
The family members of the slain youth alleged that Muzaffar died due to negligence of the doctors. “Doctors didn’t take proper care of him,” said one of the family members.
Meanwhile, a spontaneous shutdown was observed in Baroosa and its adjoining areas in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday after the news of death of a Kulgam youth spread in the area.

Amnesty Int’l reacts to torture, use of excessive force in Kashmir

K H News Service — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 20:43:39 +0000

Srinagar/ April,15: Two recent videos from Jammu and Kashmir appearing to show the use of torture and excessive force by security forces must lead to the prosecution in civilian courts of those suspected to be responsible, Amnesty International India said on Saturday.
In one video uploaded on 14 April, a man, later identified as 24-year-old Farooq Ahmad Dar from Khansahib, Budgam is seen strapped to the front of a moving Indian Army jeep. A soldier can be heard saying, “This will be the fate of people who throw stones.” Some media reports later quoted unnamed Army sources as saying that Army officials had tied Farooq Dar to the jeep as a ‘human shield’ to deter people from throwing stones at their convoy.
Amnesty International India met Farooq Dar on 14 April. He had several bruises and a dislocated wrist. He told Amnesty International India that he had been detained by Army personnel while he was travelling to Gampora village on his motorcycle on 9 April, the day of polling for a parliamentary by-election. He said, “Army personnel took my voter identity card and started beating me. Then they tied me to the front bumper of one of their jeeps… For five hours and 15 minutes, from 11 am to 4.15 pm, I was tied to the army jeep and was driven through different villages, for about 27 kilometres.” He was released only later that evening. The Army has said it is verifying the contents of the video. The state police have registered a First Information Report.
“What Farooq Ahmad Dar was subjected to is cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment amounting to torture,” said ZahoorWani, Senior Campaigner at Amnesty International India. “Whether Army personnel in this case wanted to deter stone-throwers, or intimidate people by making an example of Farooq Dar, such conduct is unlawful and unacceptable. Authorities should bring to justice those responsible, including those with command responsibility, in a civilian court. Army officials must think carefully about the signals that such demeaning acts send to ordinary people in Kashmir. They should not block prosecution using the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.”
A second video appears to show the killing of 17-year-old Akeel Ahmad Wani by personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, a paramilitary force, near a polling station in Beerwah, Budgam, on 9 April. AkeelWani was part of a group throwing stones at security force personnel near the polling station. In the video, security force personnel are seen shooting from behind a wall at the protestors a short distance away.
Nazir Ahmed Wani, Akeel’s uncle, told Amnesty International India, “Akeel was shot on left side of his face…We got a phone call informing us about the incident. Before we reached the spot, a local Sikh youth, who lives near the school, had taken Akeel to a public health centre, from where he was taken to a hospital. However he was declared brought dead.” The state police have registered a criminal case.
“Security forces are entitled to use force against violent protestors, but it must be both necessary and proportional. The video appears to show personnel firing live ammunition at close range at stone throwers, which exceeds what is an acceptable use of force,” said ZahoorWani.
“The central government must ensure that those suspected of using excessive force in this incident and others on polling dayare not shielded from justice, like many others have been in the past.”
The two videos were uploaded on social networking sites following the resumption of internet services, which had been shut down for five days in certain districts in Kashmir. There has been widespread outrage over another recently-uploaded video, which shows a member of a paramilitary force being heckled and kicked by protestors as he makes his way out of a polling station on 9 April. Three people have been arrested over the incident.
“There has rightly been appreciation of the restraint shown by certain security force personnel in dealing with violent protestors. Law enforcement officials must use force only when necessary and to the extent required to perform their duties. Intentional lethal force must only be used when unavoidable and in order to protect life,” said ZahoorWani.
Several violent clashes took place between protesters and security forces on 9 April.The Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission has asked the state police to submit a detailed report on the killings of eight people by security forces, which includes people reported to have been killed by arbitrary or excessive force. Another by-election is scheduled to take place in Anantnag on 25 May.

Youth killed after forces open fire in Batmaloo

K H News Service — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 20:42:39 +0000

Srinagar/ April,15: A youth was killed after forces opened fire in SD colony area of Batmaloo in Kashmir capital Srinagar on Saturday evening, police said.
An official said they were confirming the circumstances in which he was killed. “Police is collecting the details and is looking into the circumstances under which a person, identified as Sajad Hussain Sheikh of Chandoosa Baramulla, at present S D Colony Srinagar, got killed,” he said.
“The District Police administration Srinagar has informed that there was no deployment in the area. The matter is being investigated.” Meanwhile resistance leaders in late night announcement called for valley wide shut down today (Monday)

UJC supports shutdown call against Modi’s visit

K H News Service — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 20:18:57 +0000

Srinagar/March,31:Supporting the shutdown call given by Resistance leadership against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conglomerate of local militant outfits United Jihad Council Friday appealed people of Kashmir to show hatred against the proposed visit by observing a complete shutdown on 2 April (Sunday).
In a statement issued to local news gathering agency CNS, Syed Salahuddin, the UJC Chief said that Modi’s Kashmir visit is aimed at to mislead the world and rub the salt on the wounds of Kashmiri people. “What can you expect from such a person who has unleashed terror among Muslims in India and with regard to Kashmir, his role has been horrible and obnoxious? What happened in Kashmir from past 9 months is not hidden to anyone. Innocents were maimed, blinded and killed. This visit is an attempt to mislead the world community,” he said.
He said that by observing shutdown people of Kashmir should give world community a message that they can’t be subjugated through deceit and deception.

Protests, clashes against Chadoora’s youth killings after Friday prayers across Kashmir

K H News Service — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 20:17:35 +0000

Srinagar/March,31:Kashmir Valley witnessed clashes and anti-India protests in different parts after Friday congregation prayers. The joint resistance leadership had called for “peaceful protests” after Friday prayers against the Chadoora civilian killings. Three civilians were killed in forces’ firing near the site of an encounter in Durbugh village of Chadoora.
Government had made heavy deployments of forces to prevent possible protests in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir. Deployments of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had been made in sensitive places to prevent any ‘untoward incidents.
Official sources said that no restrictions have been imposed anywhere in the valley. However, adequate security deployments had been made for the day. However, reports said that restriction had been imposed in Nowhatta and adjoining areas of old Srinagar city. Separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmed Shah and Syed Ali Geelani were barred from offering Friday congregational prayers. Geelani and Shah continue to be under house arrest while Mirwaiz also remained under house detention.
Despite heightened security, protests and clashes were reported from Chatabal, Rangreth, Maisuma, Natipora, Rawalpora, Mochou, Kralpora and other parts of Srinagar and its outskirts. Violent clashes were reported from Rangreth where scores of youth assembled near Railway track and attacked government forces with stones. Right from Rawalpora up to Rengreth, a shutdown was observed against the civilian killings. Pertinently, one of the deceased youth killed in Chadoora was the resident of Rengreth area.
At Rawalpora, Mochou and Kralpora, Government forces fired tear-gas shells to disperse the youth protesting against civilian killings.
Government Forces used tear-smoke shells to disperse protesters who raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans in Maisuma locality of Srinagar city. Eye witnesses said as Friday prayers ended, scores of youth in Maisuma area assembled at Maisuma Chowk after prayers and started raising pro-freedom slogans. They started marching towards city centre, however were stopped by forces triggering clashes. Forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters while the youth resorted to stone-pelting. The clashes spread to Budshah Chowk where scores of youth targeted government forces with stones.
Reports from apple town Sopore of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district said that at least six youth and a policeman were injured on Friday during clashes. Witnesses said that clashes erupted in the town after forces attempted to disperse youth who had assembled soon after Friday prayers near Markazi jamia Masjid Sopore to protest against civilian killings in Chadoora. They said that forces used teargas shells to disperse the protesters who in turn pelted stones on them.
Minor clashes were reported from Palhalan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Clashes erupted between protesters and government forces in Pulwama, Kulgam and Bijbehara towns of south Kashmir while reports of protests came from several other areas.
Reports said that clashes between youth and forces took place in Prichoo and Chaatpora areas of South Kashmir’s Pulwama town. Witnesses said that government forces used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters while locals alleged that forces damaged dozens of vehicles in the area. “Vehicles parked in the area along roadside were damaged by government forces while pedestrians were assaulted,” said a local. Eyewitnesses said that forces resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse protesters in Pulwama town. Downplaying the incident, a police official said that clashes were minor in nature and protesters were dispersed by police without using any force.
A pro-freedom march was organized in Rajpora area of the Pulwama district after the culmination of Friday congregational prayers. The rally was led by senior separatist leader Abdul Samad Inqalabi. The protesters amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans visited the slain militant Rayees Ahmed’s house and offered prayers for him. A funeral prayers in absentia was also held in Rajpora for the slain militant and the three civilians killed in Forces action in Central Kashmir’s Chadoora town a few day’s back.
Violent clashes were reported from Bijbehara town of Anantnag district while protests were held in Tral town, Yaripora and Khudwani Qaimoh. Witnesses said that massive stone-pelting took place in Bijbehara where a large number of protesting youth shortly after Friday prayers tried to organize a pro-freedom march that was stopped by government forces, thus resulting in clashes. Locals alleged that Forces resorted to intense tear-smoke shelling. Reports said that several protesters were wounded during clashes in Tral town.
A police official said that barring few incidents of stone-pelting situation across Kashmir Valley remained peaceful.