Protest against disappearance of man in 'Army custody' in Srinagar
Shujaat Bukhari
People have been taking to the streets against disappearances
SRINAGAR: Hundreds of people on Thursday staged a demonstration in the Shalimar area here against the disappearance of a driver allegedly in the custody of the Army since 2002. The agitators blocked the road and shouted slogans demanding that the Government reveal his whereabouts.
A similar demonstration was held in Batamaloo, seeking the whereabouts of missing persons.
As investigations into the fake encounters in which five bodies have been exhumed so far are on, relatives of hundreds of people reported missing in the last 17 years are becoming restless.
For the past two weeks, people have taken to streets protesting against disappearances, mostly in the custody of security forces.
Driver Mohammad Rafiq Sheikh went missing with his Sumo vehicle on June 16, 2002. Rafiq was allegedly taken away by 34 Rashtriya Rifles men when he was on his way to Jammu carrying passengers. He was taken to Parimpora and after that there had been no clue about his whereabouts.
His brothers Bashir Ahmad and Shamim Ahmad, who are with the police department, said that after sometime an acquaintance of their family told them that he met Rafiq in April 2003 outside an Army camp in Beerwah and he was purchasing vegetables for the unit.
"We then rushed to look for him and went to everybody from the DSP to the IGP but we were not heard," they said, adding that if he was dead "we have a right to get the body."
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have started collecting details of missing people. All police stations have been directed to re-verify the details about missing people.
"Yes, we are doing the exercise and updating the details we have. May be some people have returned homes, some are across the border or some are dead," said a senior police officer.
Protest against disappearance of man in 'Army custody' in Srinagar
Shujaat Bukhari
People have been taking to the streets against disappearances
SRINAGAR: Hundreds of people on Thursday staged a demonstration in the Shalimar area here against the disappearance of a driver allegedly in the custody of the Army since 2002. The agitators blocked the road and shouted slogans demanding that the Government reveal his whereabouts.
A similar demonstration was held in Batamaloo, seeking the whereabouts of missing persons.
As investigations into the fake encounters in which five bodies have been exhumed so far are on, relatives of hundreds of people reported missing in the last 17 years are becoming restless.
For the past two weeks, people have taken to streets protesting against disappearances, mostly in the custody of security forces.
Driver Mohammad Rafiq Sheikh went missing with his Sumo vehicle on June 16, 2002. Rafiq was allegedly taken away by 34 Rashtriya Rifles men when he was on his way to Jammu carrying passengers. He was taken to Parimpora and after that there had been no clue about his whereabouts.
His brothers Bashir Ahmad and Shamim Ahmad, who are with the police department, said that after sometime an acquaintance of their family told them that he met Rafiq in April 2003 outside an Army camp in Beerwah and he was purchasing vegetables for the unit.
"We then rushed to look for him and went to everybody from the DSP to the IGP but we were not heard," they said, adding that if he was dead "we have a right to get the body."
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have started collecting details of missing people. All police stations have been directed to re-verify the details about missing people.
"Yes, we are doing the exercise and updating the details we have. May be some people have returned homes, some are across the border or some are dead," said a senior police officer.
20070308
THE HINDU
Kin of missing Kashmiris intensify struggle
Special Correspondent
Protesters demand to be told "where they are"
SRINAGAR: Following the expose of fake encounters, the search for those missing in Kashmir for the last 17 years has intensified with the affected families taking to the streets.
While Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced a probe into all cases of disappearances since 1990, the State Human Rights Commission has in its latest report said that it received 39 complaints about disappearances during 2005-06.
The protests over the killing of innocent civilians in fake encounters which rocked the Kashmir Valley in the past 10 days have encouraged the kin of those who have disappeared allegedly in custody. A silent protest outside the High Court on Friday showed the plight of the affected families.
Wailing men, women and children were carrying pictures of their missing relatives and demanding to be told "where they are." "At least someone should give me the dead body of my son so that I can bury him in my own graveyard," said Bakhti from Wanigam (Pattan) whose son Tariq Ahmad was allegedly picked up by the Army from the Zangam camp on November 9, 1999.
``Met him in custody''
The same was the case with the family of Parvez Ahmad Khan of Lolab who was arrested by the 18 Rashtriya Rifles unit based in Tekipora Kupwara.
"We met him in custody for two months but after that we don't know where he is," said one of his relatives.
The condition of the family of Ulfat Shah of Nambal Pattan (Anantnag) who had left for Srinagar on May 26, 2006, is even more pitiable.
His father could not bear the tragedy of losing his son and soon passed away.
There were many families asking for the whereabouts of their missing people. "It (protest) will gain momentum now as many people believe that their dear ones have been killed," said Parveena Ahangar, chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons. Ms. Parveena is herself in search of her son Javed since August 1990.
Special Correspondent
Protesters demand to be told "where they are"
SRINAGAR: Following the expose of fake encounters, the search for those missing in Kashmir for the last 17 years has intensified with the affected families taking to the streets.
While Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced a probe into all cases of disappearances since 1990, the State Human Rights Commission has in its latest report said that it received 39 complaints about disappearances during 2005-06.
The protests over the killing of innocent civilians in fake encounters which rocked the Kashmir Valley in the past 10 days have encouraged the kin of those who have disappeared allegedly in custody. A silent protest outside the High Court on Friday showed the plight of the affected families.
Wailing men, women and children were carrying pictures of their missing relatives and demanding to be told "where they are." "At least someone should give me the dead body of my son so that I can bury him in my own graveyard," said Bakhti from Wanigam (Pattan) whose son Tariq Ahmad was allegedly picked up by the Army from the Zangam camp on November 9, 1999.
``Met him in custody''
The same was the case with the family of Parvez Ahmad Khan of Lolab who was arrested by the 18 Rashtriya Rifles unit based in Tekipora Kupwara.
"We met him in custody for two months but after that we don't know where he is," said one of his relatives.
The condition of the family of Ulfat Shah of Nambal Pattan (Anantnag) who had left for Srinagar on May 26, 2006, is even more pitiable.
His father could not bear the tragedy of losing his son and soon passed away.
There were many families asking for the whereabouts of their missing people. "It (protest) will gain momentum now as many people believe that their dear ones have been killed," said Parveena Ahangar, chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons. Ms. Parveena is herself in search of her son Javed since August 1990.
THE HINDU
Jawan shoots colleague by mistake
Jammu: A jawan, on Saturday, allegedly shot dead his colleague, believing him to be an intruder, at an Army camp in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials here said.
Sandeep Singh of 20 Rastritya Rifles was walking near the gate of the camp in the morning when sepoy Sohan Singh asked him to halt in the Bhanikheet area, the sources said.
When the jawan ignored the call, Mr. Sohan Singh fired at him, killing him on the spot.
A court of inqury was ordered into the incident. — PTI
THE HINDU
DNA matched
Srinagar: The DNA sample of a person allegedly killed in a fake encounter by the Jammu and Kashmir police, has matched with that of his relatives. — PTI
THE HINDU
Army jawans beat up two policemen in Kashmir
| Cops relieved of cash, valuables and weapons |
Jammu: Army jawans led by a Captain on Sunday allegedly beat up two policemen, confined them in a camp in Gandoh area of Doda district and relieved them of their weapons, cash and valuables, a police spokesman said.
A case was registered against Sunil Yadav and JCOs Hari Chander and Kishori Lal of 26 Rastriya Rifles while constables Balwant Singh and Anchal were admitted to the Gandoh hospital with injuries, he said. Capt. Yadav, the JCOs and other troops allegedly stopped the policemen and took them to an Army camp in Gandoh where they were thrashed. The troops relieved them of Rs. 70,000 in cash, a mobile phone, a digital camera, an AK assault with 6 magazines carrying 150 rounds, an SLR with 2 magazines of 100 rounds, a .303 rifle and magazines containing 100 rounds besides a wireless set, the spokesman said.
He said senior police officials had expressed ``grave concern'' over the incident and reported the matter to the Army top brass here.
An FIR was lodged in the Gandoh police station under Sections 341, 342 (wrongful restraint/confinement), 382 (theft causing death/hurt), 384 (extortion), 353 (assault with intent to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from discharge of duty) and 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), he added.
THE HINDU
Malik ends fast with a plea to Manmohan
Shujaat Bukhari
| Reminds him about his promise on zero tolerance to rights violations |
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik on Thursday ended his three-day-long hunger strike with an appeal to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to fulfil his promise of ensuring zero tolerance vis-à-vis human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Amid emotional scenes, with the kin of missing persons joining the protest at the JKLF headquarters, Mr. Malik broke his fast. He, however, vowed to continue his struggle against human rights violations stating that all Kashmiris were with him.
Mr. Malik had launched a campaign after the unearthing of a fake encounters scandal. Bodies of five civilians were exhumed recently in connection with the case.
`People harassed'
Talking to reporters, the JKLF chief pointed to a number of waling women and other relatives saying "a daughter is looking for her father and a wife for her husband." He said that a young Kashmiri woman whose husband was missing for so many years was in a dilemma to whether call herself a widow or not. He alleged that people were being harassed and warned that they would ultimately be forced to take recourse to the gun.
Mr. Malik said that he would shortly go to Delhi and meet human rights activists to tell them what ordeal the "Kashmiris are facing." He reminded the Prime Minister about his May 22 promise about zero tolerance. "I hope the Prime Minister will personally look into the issue and come to the rescue of the hapless people of this State."
Mr. Malik reiterated his stand on a fast-unto-death in case the violations did not stop within 45 days. "Each and every Kashmiri is worried about security. There is no guarantee. This is not a peace process but an agenda to kill Kashmiris."
Responding to a question whether such cases since 1990 were being reopened, he said: "In case they reopen cases from 1990 and there is genuine and transparent investigation, I will support that."
The Special Investigation Team, headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Farooq Ahmad, has arrested three more policemen involved in fake encounters. He said the three — Bansi Lal, Manzoor Ahmad and Zahir Abbas — who were part of the Special Operations Group of Ganderbal Police, were arrested on Wednesday and put to sustained interrogation. "Investigations are going on in full swing and we are not going slow on the matter," he said, adding that the case would be taken to its logical conclusion.
THE HINDU
Pakistan lower house condemns `excesses' in J&K
Nirupama Subramanian
| Resolution moved for Kashmir Solidarity Day |
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's lower house of Parliament, the National Assembly, on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning alleged excesses by Indian forces in Kashmir and renewing its pledge for continued moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmir cause.
The resolution was moved for Kashmir Solidarity Day, which Pakistan observed on February 5.
Here is the text of the resolution:
"It is moved that in observance of 5th February as Kashmir Solidarity Day, the National Assembly of Pakistan:
Re-iterates its unequivocal moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their inalienable right to self determination as pledged to them through UN resolutions.
Emphasises that through peace in the region is a shared aspiration it will not be realised till the Kashmir dispute is recognized as the core issue between Pakistan and India.
Recognizes that the just struggle of the people of Kashmir, which is indigenous, has been sustained for nearly two decades and re-iterates that for a lasting settlement of the disputed territory of Kashmir it must be in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.
Condemns the unabated infringement of civilian rights and continued violation of human rights in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) and calls for the restoration of fundamental freedoms and an immediate stop to the human tragedy of abuse, violence, death and destruction.
Condemns the heavy military concentration in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and calls for withdrawal of Indian security forces and repeal of Kashmir specific-draconian laws, so that some interim relief is provided to the Kashmiri people.
Resolves this resolution on the legitimate struggle of the people of Kashmir will be transmitted by the Speaker to Inter-Parliamentary Union (EPEE) all parliaments, international human rights bodies and conflict resolution organizations."
At a conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-associated Institute of Strategic Studies, two prominent speakers made the case for negotiations over the use of force for settling the Kashmir issue.
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Senate or the upper house of Parliament Mushahid Hussain Sayed said Kashmir was an issue above party politics in Pakistan.
Mr. Sayed said the region could not afford the flaring up of another conflict and that it was time to "give diplomacy a chance".
India had realised that the use of force in Kashmir could not settle the dispute, and the continuing conflict was dragging down India's ambitions on the world stage.
Indian attempts to link Pakistan with the "indigenous struggle" in Kashmir had also "boomeranged", he said, pointing out that after blaming Pakistan for the July 2006 Mumbai bomb blasts, India had no option but to "come back to peace talks."
He said it was a positive sign that "for the first time the authentic voices of the Kashmiris have been recognised as a factor", and that both India and Pakistan were talking to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
He also pointed out that India "is recognising that human rights excesses are happening" in Kashmir.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan who also spoke at the seminar said Kashmiris "have never accepted the Line of Control as a solution, so there is no chance that they will accept it as a basis for a solution."
Stressing that "negotiations are the best method" to resolve the dispute, he said the changed international environment had created a favourable conditions for negotiations.
Within India too, there was a new consciousness about the urgency to resolve the Kashmir dispute, Mr. Khan said.
He praised the progress being made in the peace process with India, the proposals on Kashmir that President Pervez Musharraf has put forward and India's "positive" response to these ideas.
Thursday, Feb 08, 2007
THE HINDU
Fake encounters: Malik begins fast
SNOWBALLING ISSUE: A family watches a rally being taken out by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front against fake encounters, in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Shujaat Bukhari
| Warns of mass movement if there is no change in situation within a month and a half JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday began a three-day hunger strike in Srinagar as part of a four-day campaign against human rights violations in Kashmir through killing of innocent civilians in fake encounters. Mr. Malik had called for a general strike call and it evoked near total response in Srinagar and other major towns, affecting life across the valley. Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed for the day and there was minimal attendance in Government offices. Vehicles were off the road for most part of the day and a dozen people were injured in clashes with police. Joined by parents of youth who disappeared over the past 17 years besides human rights activists and trade union leaders, Mr. Malik sat in a tent on the road outside his office in Maisuma area. Mr. Malik threatened to start a mass movement if the situation did not witness a change within one-and- half months. "Peace process and human rights violations cannot go together," he said. Claiming that the hunger strike was just a reminder to the Prime Minister to take some stern measures in curbing human rights violations, he said: "I will ask people to take to streets if the state of human rights continues to be the same." Joining Mr. Malik was the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons' president, Parveena Ahanger. Ms. Ahanger said that it was for the first time that an initiative had been taken to trace five missing persons and the results were open. "It is the security forces that are responsible for all such disappearances," she said adding that the process was on since 1990, when insurgency began in the State. Several arrested
Police arrested several persons who were protesting against killings in fake encounters. Hundreds of protesters poured in to Lal Chowk from parts of the city and raised pro-freedom and anti-SOG slogans. They also demanded punishment to the security personnel involved in fake encounters. "We have the right to know what happened to our sons and brothers," said a protester. |
THE HINDU
Pakistan to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day today
Nirupama Subramanian
| Kashmir must be brought back to its lost glory: Musharraf Banners proclaim solidarity with the Kashmiris |
ISLAMABAD: It is a day of no particular significance for Jammu and Kashmir but Pakistan will observe Monday, February 5, as Kashmir Solidarity Day, as it has been doing since 1990, shortly after the armed uprising in the State began.
Preparations have been on for the past several days. The Government has declared the day a public holiday — government offices, banks, schools and colleges will remain closed.
Banners are already up on many important avenues, roads and intersections of the capital, proclaiming Pakistan's solidarity with the Kashmiris.
On Monday, across the country, and in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, politicians will lead prayers and a five-minute silence in memory of those killed in fighting in Kashmir.
In PoK, the elected Legislative Assembly and the Council or the upper House will hold a joint session in Muzaffarabad.
The Jamaat-ud-dawa, the religious charity associated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, announced plans for a massive rally in Lahore to be addressed by Hafiz Saeed, the founder of both organisations.
Every province has announced its own programmes. In the North West Frontier province, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, the alliance of six religious parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamaat-e-Ulema Islami, announced that in view of the recent suicide bombings and generally tense security situation, it would not take out any rallies or processions. Instead, it has organised a day of seminars of Kashmir.
February 5 has usually been an occasion for Pakistani politicians to outdo each other on their loyalty to the Kashmir cause and in their expression for those involved in the jihad. This year, with allegations against President Pervez Musharraf of a "sell-out" to India on Kashmir, the Government's focus is on providing reassurance that there will be no short-changing.
President Pervez Musharraf, in a message, said his four-point proposal was aimed at breaking the decade-old deadlock and "given the sincerity and goodwill, it could provide a durable solution that genuinely reflects the aspirations of all Kashmiris."
"Pakistan and India have embarked upon a sustained dialogue process and today, I want to reassure all Kashmiris that ultimately, it is their wishes that would guide us as we pursue a just and honourable settlement of this tragic dispute. The recent visit of the leadership of the All Parties Hurriyyat Conference to Pakistan is part of this process and in line with our endeavour to associate Kashmiri representatives with the dialogue process," he said. He described the Kashmir-related confidence building measures as an attempt "to bring relief to the day-to-day lives of the people on both sides of the divided territory."
Stressing the importance of restoring peace in the region, he said "our children should never again live in fear or mistrust but should be nurtured in an environment where honour, dignity and freedom of all is assured."
President Musharraf paid tribute to "more than 80,000 Kashmiris who lost their lives in upholding the ideals of freedom and liberty," and to honour their memory, pledged "to spare no efforts in our quest to win back to Kashmir its lost glory and to make it a citadel of peace and harmony."
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said he wished to reassure Kashmiris that Pakistan was "steadfast" and `unwavering" in its political, moral and diplomatic support to their cause for winning the "inalienable right of self-determination."
The history of February 5 goes back to 1990. Mr. Nawaz Sharif, then the main Opposition leader and the Chief Minister of Punjab, issued advertisements in newspapers appealing for a nation-wide strike on February 5 to enable the people "to pray for God's help for the success of jihad in Kashmir." Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party Government responded by declaring the day public holiday.
THE HINDU
Kashmir: 3 more bodies exhumed
Shujaat Bukhari
SRINAGAR: As the raging protests against fake encounters in Kashmir continued for the third day, three more bodies of victims of fake encounters were exhumed amid high tension and moving scenes in Ajas and Kangan areas.
Notwithstanding swift action by police, tempers continue to run high. On Saturday, bodies of Ghulam Nabi Wani of Noubugh Kokernag, Shoukat Ahmad Khatana of Banihal and Ali Mohammad Paddar of Matigawran Kokernag were exhumed at Ajas, Bazipora and Hari Kangan respectively. A team of experts from the Chandigarh Forensic Laboratory assisted by experts from the Government Medical College, Srinagar, took samples from the bodies which will be matched with those of their kin. However, relatives of the victims identified the bodies as those of the missing persons.
Police had a tough time dealing with the situation as thousands of people gathered near the graveyards shouting slogans "Hang the killers", "We want freedom" and "Stop genocide in Kashmir."
Touching scenes were witnessed as the bodies of Wani and others were exhumed in the presence of their wives and children.
THE HINDU
Ganderbal killings
Pravin Swami
IN THE DOCK: Ganderbal SSP Hans Raj Parihar, who was arrested on Saturday for his alleged role in the murder of Abdul Rahman Paddar.Srinagar: FIR 133 of December 9, 2006, Police Station Ganderbal: Jammu Kashmir Police Special Operations Group reports that it, with the Central Reserve Police Force, has killed an unidentified Pakistani terrorist, from whom a weapon was recovered. Identified as: Abdul Rahman Paddar
FIR 203 of October 5, 2006, Police Station Sumbal: 13 Rashtriya Rifles reports that it, along with police, laid ambushes, in which a Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist identified as Zahid Ali was killed. Identified as: Shaukat Khan
FIR 52 of March 14, 2006, Police Station Sumbal: 24 Rashtriya Rifles reports that it, along with the police, killed an unidentified terrorist near Sumbal, from whom a weapon was recovered. Identified as: Ghulam Nabi Wani
FIR 25 of March 8, 2006, Police Station Kangan: 24 Rashtriya Rifles reports that it, acting on police information, has killed an unidentified terrorist near Sumbal, from whom a weapon was recovered. Identified as: Ali Mohammad Padroo
FIR 17 of February 17, 2006, Police Station Ganderbal: 5 Rashtriya Rifles reports that it, along with police, has shot dead an unidentified terrorist from whom it recovered a Kalashnikov rifle, ammunition and a pistol. Identified as: Nasir Ahmad Deka.
Top cops arrested in Kashmir
Pravin Swami
| Ganderbal Senior SP Parihar and DSP Bahadur Ram held for Paddar's murder |
TRUTH SURFACES: Kashmiri villagers carry a body exhumed from a grave at Ajas village, 45 km off Srinagar, on Saturday. Bodies of five civilians killed in fake encounters have been exhumed in the past few days. — Photo: AFP
SRINAGAR: Police have arrested two senior officials who are alleged to be at the heart of a rogue police and army ring responsible for a series of fake encounters staged in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal last year.
Ganderbal Senior Superintendent of Police Hans Raj Parihar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Bahadur Ram have been held for their alleged role in the murder of Larnoo resident Abdul Rahman Paddar — one of the five victims of the rogue ring who have so far been identified. Both officers were stripped of their charge last month.
A resident of the village of Larnoo, near Kokernag in southern Kashmir, Mr. Paddar had disappeared on December 8, 2006 during a visit to Srinagar. A carpenter by trade, Mr. Paddar had travelled to Srinagar to visit Farooq Ahmad `Tanker,' a Larnoo resident who drew his nickname from his work as a truck driver for the police.
Six days after his disappearance, Mr. Paddar's relatives contacted the office of Srinagar's south-zone Superintendent of Police, Uttam Chand. At that stage, there was little reason to believe that the carpenter had been the victim of a crime. Nonetheless, Mr. Chand ensured that a Missing Person Report was filed, and asked his staff to begin investigation.
Telephone trail
Police investigators began by trying to trace Mr. Paddar through his mobile phone. Bharat Sanchar Nigam staff found that while Mr. Paddar's phone number had become inactive, his telephone — identified by its IMEI number, 357054000874988 — was still running, now fitted with a new SIM card.
Investigators were able to trace the new phone number 9419901156 to Abdul Rashid Wagay, a resident of the town of Hajan. Questioned, Mr. Wagay said he had obtained the phone from assistant sub-inspector of police, Farooq Guddu — a key member of Mr. Parihar's counter-terrorism operation in Ganderbal.
Mr. Guddu provided the Jammu and Kashmir Police with a full account of Mr. Paddar's killing. Mr. Paddar, he confirmed, was lured to Srinagar by Mr. Ahmad on December 8. Late that afternoon, a police team led by Mr. Guddu kidnapped the carpenter. He was driven to Ganderbal in a police vehicle, and shot the next day.
Evidence supporting Mr. Guddu's testimony soon emerged. Police were able to locate witnesses who had seen Mr. Paddar with Mr. Ahmad on December 8. It also emerged that Mr. Guddu had been briefly detained by the Central Reserve Police Force at Panzath while on his way to Srinagar, after an altercation with civilians.
During their interrogation, both Mr. Guddu and Mr. Ahmad said they had acted on the direct instructions of Mr. Parihar — a claim the special investigation team set up to probe the Ganderbal killings has spent the past fortnight examining. Details of the corroborative evidence found by the police, however, have not yet been made public.
Participants in the rogue cell were driven to murder by the prospect of professional advancement and cash rewards. Interestingly, Mr. Ahmad had taken a bribe of Rs. 75,000 to get Mr. Paddar a job. He could not deliver on his promise and the carpenter was asking for his money back. Mr. Ahmad then allegedly conspired to select the carpenter as a victim so that he did not have to return the money.
By questioning Mr. Parihar and Mr. Bahadur in custody, investigators hope to gain a new insight into at least four separate fake encounters thought to have been organised by the rogue ring in Ganderbal last year. While Mr. Paddar's killing was carried out by the police, the other four murders involved Army jawans.
THE HINDU
Top cops arrested in Kashmir
TRUTH SURFACES: Kashmiri villagers carry a body exhumed from a grave at Ajas village, 45 km off Srinagar, on Saturday. Bodies of five civilians killed in fake encounters have been exhumed in the past few days. — Photo: AFP
Pravin Swami
| Ganderbal Senior SP Parihar and DSP Bahadur Ram held for Paddar's murder |
TRUTH SURFACES: Kashmiri villagers carry a body exhumed from a grave at Ajas village, 45 km off Srinagar, on Saturday. Bodies of five civilians killed in fake encounters have been exhumed in the past few days. — Photo: AFP
SRINAGAR: Police have arrested two senior officials who are alleged to be at the heart of a rogue police and army ring responsible for a series of fake encounters staged in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal last year.
Ganderbal Senior Superintendent of Police Hans Raj Parihar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Bahadur Ram have been held for their alleged role in the murder of Larnoo resident Abdul Rahman Paddar — one of the five victims of the rogue ring who have so far been identified. Both officers were stripped of their charge last month.
A resident of the village of Larnoo, near Kokernag in southern Kashmir, Mr. Paddar had disappeared on December 8, 2006 during a visit to Srinagar. A carpenter by trade, Mr. Paddar had travelled to Srinagar to visit Farooq Ahmad `Tanker,' a Larnoo resident who drew his nickname from his work as a truck driver for the police.
Six days after his disappearance, Mr. Paddar's relatives contacted the office of Srinagar's south-zone Superintendent of Police, Uttam Chand. At that stage, there was little reason to believe that the carpenter had been the victim of a crime. Nonetheless, Mr. Chand ensured that a Missing Person Report was filed, and asked his staff to begin investigation.
Telephone trail
Police investigators began by trying to trace Mr. Paddar through his mobile phone. Bharat Sanchar Nigam staff found that while Mr. Paddar's phone number had become inactive, his telephone — identified by its IMEI number, 357054000874988 — was still running, now fitted with a new SIM card.
Investigators were able to trace the new phone number 9419901156 to Abdul Rashid Wagay, a resident of the town of Hajan. Questioned, Mr. Wagay said he had obtained the phone from assistant sub-inspector of police, Farooq Guddu — a key member of Mr. Parihar's counter-terrorism operation in Ganderbal.
Mr. Guddu provided the Jammu and Kashmir Police with a full account of Mr. Paddar's killing. Mr. Paddar, he confirmed, was lured to Srinagar by Mr. Ahmad on December 8. Late that afternoon, a police team led by Mr. Guddu kidnapped the carpenter. He was driven to Ganderbal in a police vehicle, and shot the next day.
Evidence supporting Mr. Guddu's testimony soon emerged. Police were able to locate witnesses who had seen Mr. Paddar with Mr. Ahmad on December 8. It also emerged that Mr. Guddu had been briefly detained by the Central Reserve Police Force at Panzath while on his way to Srinagar, after an altercation with civilians.
During their interrogation, both Mr. Guddu and Mr. Ahmad said they had acted on the direct instructions of Mr. Parihar — a claim the special investigation team set up to probe the Ganderbal killings has spent the past fortnight examining. Details of the corroborative evidence found by the police, however, have not yet been made public.
Participants in the rogue cell were driven to murder by the prospect of professional advancement and cash rewards. Interestingly, Mr. Ahmad had taken a bribe of Rs. 75,000 to get Mr. Paddar a job. He could not deliver on his promise and the carpenter was asking for his money back. Mr. Ahmad then allegedly conspired to select the carpenter as a victim so that he did not have to return the money.
By questioning Mr. Parihar and Mr. Bahadur in custody, investigators hope to gain a new insight into at least four separate fake encounters thought to have been organised by the rogue ring in Ganderbal last year. While Mr. Paddar's killing was carried out by the police, the other four murders involved Army jawans.
Sunday, Feb 04, 2007
THE HINDU
SRINAGAR: The chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference's moderate faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Thursday vowed to go ahead with the Kashmir peace process, which, he said, was sustainable but called for withdrawal of "Indian forces" as the first step to resolving the issue.
The Mirwaiz was addressing a gathering after a grand reception on his return from a 10-day visit to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Pakistan.
The Hurriyat leader said Kashmir was being recognised at the international level as also by India and Pakistan. "We have been saying that the struggle for Kashmir is on at the diplomatic, political and militant fronts. The time has come to consolidate all the three fronts. Those working on the militant front should support our efforts."
The entire Pakistan — the government, the people and the political parties — were supportive of the Hurriyat's efforts and they were briefed on the Kashmir situation. The Hurriyat supported Pakistan President Pervez Musharaf's remarks. "The first step is withdrawal of India's forces. In the second stage, the line that divides Kashmir should be erased."
Kashmir, he insisted, could not have a military solution. "Hence, the Government of India must give up its traditional stand."
Referring to the attack on the Hurriyat headquarters on Wednesday night, he said: "We are not deterred. Vested interests will not be allowed to play spoilsport."
Earlier, as the Mirwaiz, accompanied by Hurriyat executive member Bilal Gani Lone, landed here, thousands of supporters gave them a tumultuous welcome. Over 300 vehicles, carrying supporters of both leaders, made a beeline for the airport. Both were later taken in procession to Mirwaiz Manzil.
Waving flags of both the Mirwaiz-led Awami Action Committee and Mr. Lone's People's Conference, people chanted slogans "Jeeway jeeway Pakistan (Long live Pakistan) and Mirwaiz kadam badhao, ham tumharey saath hain (Mirwaiz, you go ahead, we are with you)."
Some of the supporters carried photographs of Mushtaq Zargar, founder of the now defunct al-Umar Mujahideen. He was one of the three militants whom the former Union Minister Jaswant Singh flew to Kandahar in exchange for the passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines plane in December 1999. The Mirwaiz met Zargar during his visit to Pakistan.
The authorities had a tough time regulating traffic. The event was a major show of strength by the Hurriyat, under attack from militant groups for furthering the dialogue process.
Before the Mirwaiz left for Pakistan a grenade was hurled at his residence. Later, the hardline faction of the Hurriyat, led by Syed Ali Geelani, called for a general strike against the visit.
Friday, Feb 02, 2007
THE HINDU
Attack on Hurriyat office
SRINAGAR: Militants hurled a grenade on Wednesday night at the headquarters of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat at Rajbagh locality here. No casualty was reported. — PTIv
THE HINDU
Jawan injured in landmine blast
Jammu: An Army jawan was injured in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control in Poonch district, official sources said here on Wednesday.
Sepoy Sukhram, belonging to the 8 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, was injured when he stepped over a landmine on Tuesday night while patrolling the LoC near the Indira Gate Post area in Kerni sector of Poonch.
The sources said he was admitted to an Army hospital.
Meanwhile, two militants of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen surrendered before the security forces in Gandoh area of Doda district on Wednesday. — PTI
Thursday, Feb 01, 2007
20070307
THE HINDU
Punish the guilty for 'fake encounters' in Kashmir: CPI(M)
Saturday, February 3, 2007
New Delhi, Feb. 3 (PTI): The CPI(M) today expressed shock over incidents of "fake encounters" in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the Centre and State Governments to punish the guilty so that such human rights violations are not repeated.
"The people of Kashmir Valley have every reason to feel outraged ... Every single officer and personnel of the police and the Army responsible for these atrocities must be arrested and tried for murder and abetment of murder," it said.
The fact that such "killings" were motivated by greed for reward and promotions shows the "degeneration" which has set in among some sections of the security forces, the party's Polit Bureau said in a statement.
"The state and the Central government must show by the firm action taken that they will not tolerate any extra-legal actions and violations of human rights by the security forces," it added.
The revelations of "fake encounters" in which innocent people were branded as terrorists and "killed in cold blood" are shocking, the party said, conveying its sympathies to families of the victims.
"The army units involved in false encounters must be withdrawn," it demandedSaturday, February 3, 2007
THE HINDU
Army, CRPF order probes into Kashmir killings
Srinagar, Feb. 4 (PTI): The probe into fake encounter killings that have rocked Jammu and Kashmir has widened with the army and CRPF ordering inquiries into the role of their men in incidents in which civilians were allegedly killed and dubbed as foreign militants for gaining promotions and rewards.
The army today said it has ordered an inquiry into cases of fake gun battles in Ganderbal following media reports about the alleged involvement of Rashtriya Rifles units in these cases.
"Disciplinary action will be initiated if anyone (from army or Rashtriya Rifles) is found guilty," a defence spokesman said in a statement here.
Three units of Rashtriya Rifles had taken part in operations with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of local police in which they claimed to have killed four militants and showed the recovery of arms and ammunition from them.
A CRPF unit had also taken part in one of the operations at Waskoora in Sumbal area in which security forces claimed to have eliminated a Pakistani militant.
However, preliminary investigations into these operations by a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Deputy Inspector General Farooq Ahmad have indicated that all five persons killed were local Kashmiris who were picked up from different parts of Srinagar city and done away with in fake encounters, official sources said.
A CRPF spokesman said last evening the force has constituted an internal inquiry into the operation in which a unit had taken part and claimed to have killed Pakistani militant Abu Hafiz, who turned out to be Abdul Rehman Paddar, the missing carpenter from Kokernag.
Two senior state police officials -- Senior Superindent of Police H R Parihar and his deputy Bhadur Ram -- were arrested yesterday on charges of murdering the carpenter who was labelled a Pakistani militant and gunned down.
The custodial disappearances of five persons came to light when police investigating the case of Paddar found that ASI Farooq Ahmad Gudoo had given the carpenter's mobile phone to a person at Hajan in Bandipora area.
The carpenter had gone missing from Batmaloo in Srinagar on December 8 last year when he was with Farooq Ahmad Paddar, a police constable from his native Larnoo village.
The next day, the SOG and 42nd battalion of the CRPF registered an FIR in Shadipora police station that said they had killed Pakistani militant Abu Hafiz of Multan in a gun battle and recovered an AK assault rifle and some ammunition.
However, as soon as the body said to be of Hafiz was exhumed on Thursday, Paddar's father immediately identified him as his missing son.
In the second case, Nazir Ahmad Deka, also a resident of Kokernag, went missing from Lal Chowk in Srinagar on February 16, 2006. The next day, the SOG in Ganderbal and troops of 5 Rashtriya Rifles filed an FIR in Ganderbal police station claiming to have killed a foreign militant at Saloora.
Deka's body was identified by his kin on exhumation on Friday. An imitation perfume bottle was found on the body, leaving little doubt that the dead man was Deka as he used to sell such merchandise on the city's streets.
During its probe, the SIT found Deka's briefcase in which he stored perfume bottles from the home of ASI Gudoo, who was arrested with Constable Paddar on January 30.
Official sources said besides four policemen, two civilians were arrested for their alleged involvement in the killings.
However, officials were tight-lipped about the identity of the arrested civilians, saying the disclosure would hamper investigations.
In the third case, the SOG in Ganderbal and 24 Rashtriya Rifles claimed to have killed an unidentified militant at Ganiwan-Ganderbal on March 8, 2006 and showed the recovery of arms and ammunition from him.
However, when the SIT exhumed the "militant's" body yesterday, the family of Ali Mohammad Paddar of Gagran village in Kokernag identified it as that of their kin who went missing a day earlier.
Troops of 24 Rashtriya Rifles participated in another operation with the SOG at Ajas-Bandipora during the intervening night of March 13-14 last year. In the FIR filed in Sumbal police station, they claimed to have shot dead a "dreaded Pakistani militant" named Zulfikar.
On March 13, 2006, kin of Ghulam Nabi Wani, a resident of Kokernag, filed a report in Kothibagh police station here saying that he was missing. When the body was exhumed yesterday, Wani's relatives identified it as that of their missing kin by the initials G N tattooed on his forearm.
The fifth case of "fake encounter killing" occurred on October 5, 2006 when troops of 13 Rashtriya Rifles and the SOG claimed to have killed a militant from Karachi in Pakistan named Abu Zahid at Bazipora-Ajas.
When the grave of the alleged militant was dug up yesterday as part of the investigation, relatives of a missing cleric, Showkat Ahmad Khattana of Banihal in Doda district, had no doubt that it was their kin who was buried in it after being killed in a fake gun battle.
Constable Paddar has appeared as the common link in four of the five cases.
Officials said more arrests are likely over the next few days as the SIT has questioned more than a dozen policemen and civilians who might have been linked to the killings.
The SIT is also probing the source of arms and ammunition claimed to have been found by security forces on the dead "militants".
It is suspected that rogue elements in the SOG and other forces were putting away some arms and ammunition seized during genuine operations for use in such incidents, sources said.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a judicial probe into the cases of alleged custodial killings with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad saying such incidents will not be tolerated and those found guilty will be dealt with as murderers.
Massive protests were witnessed at Sumbal, Ganderbal, Ajas and Kangan when the bodies of the victims were exhumed. The protestors demanded the death sentence for the perpetrators of such cold-blooded murders.
THE HINDU
Malik for campaign against rights violations
— Photo: NISSAR AHMAD
EXPRESSING ANGER: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik at a protest rally against fake encounters, in Kokernag, 80 km south of Srinagar, on Monday.
— Photo: NISSAR AHMAD
EXPRESSING ANGER: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik at a protest rally against fake encounters, in Kokernag, 80 km south of Srinagar, on Monday.
Shujaat Bukhari
| Begins four-day protest against fake encounters; general strike on Tuesday |
EXPRESSING ANGER: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik at a protest rally against fake encounters, in Kokernag, 80 km south of Srinagar, on Monday.
JAMMU : The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik led a protest march in Kokernag area of South Kashmir, the native place of four of the victims alleged killed in fake encounters and whose bodies were exhumed last week.
Mr. Malik, who began his four-day campaign against the killings, which includes a general strike on Tuesday and a three-day hunger strike, told told a huge gathering of protesters that the only way to put an end to rights violations was by sustained campaigning.
"Only way to safeguard ourselves is to register our protest against the growing human rights violations and the fake encounters. This way world would become aware about the trauma of Kashmiris," Mr. Malik said.He warned that the state of affairs could have serious impact on the ongoing peace process while reiterating his stand of undertaking a fast unto death if human rights violations did not end within one-and-a-half months. "Probe must be completed in one-and-a-half months and guilty should be punished, otherwise I will have no option than to go on the hunger strike," he said.
"Kashmiris are not secure even during the peace process going on for the last three years now. Does the Prime Minister know how uncontrolled the security forces are? The protests should continue and people should show resentment over such issues of grave human rights violations," he said.
As Mr. Malik arrived , thousands of people, who poured in from adjoining villages in buses and on foot, started raising anti-SOG slogans demanding stern punishment to SOG men involved in the crime. Walking the 10-km distance from Larnu, carpenter Abdul Rehman Padder's native village, Mr. Malik arrived with hundreds of protesters who raised slogans such as `SSP Ko Phansi Do' and 'Kashmir Hamara Chod Do.'
Prior to his address, angry mobs tried to set fire to the house of Constable Farooq Ahmad , a key suspect in the fake encounter. Though the house was saved, a cowshed nearby was partially damaged.
Tuesday's strike call by Mr. Malik gained the support of other separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Malik for campaign against rights violations
Shujaat Bukhari
| Begins four-day protest against fake encounters; general strike on Tuesday |
EXPRESSING ANGER: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik at a protest rally against fake encounters, in Kokernag, 80 km south of Srinagar, on Monday.
JAMMU : The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik led a protest march in Kokernag area of South Kashmir, the native place of four of the victims alleged killed in fake encounters and whose bodies were exhumed last week.
Mr. Malik, who began his four-day campaign against the killings, which includes a general strike on Tuesday and a three-day hunger strike, told told a huge gathering of protesters that the only way to put an end to rights violations was by sustained campaigning.
"Only way to safeguard ourselves is to register our protest against the growing human rights violations and the fake encounters. This way world would become aware about the trauma of Kashmiris," Mr. Malik said.He warned that the state of affairs could have serious impact on the ongoing peace process while reiterating his stand of undertaking a fast unto death if human rights violations did not end within one-and-a-half months. "Probe must be completed in one-and-a-half months and guilty should be punished, otherwise I will have no option than to go on the hunger strike," he said.
"Kashmiris are not secure even during the peace process going on for the last three years now. Does the Prime Minister know how uncontrolled the security forces are? The protests should continue and people should show resentment over such issues of grave human rights violations," he said.
As Mr. Malik arrived , thousands of people, who poured in from adjoining villages in buses and on foot, started raising anti-SOG slogans demanding stern punishment to SOG men involved in the crime. Walking the 10-km distance from Larnu, carpenter Abdul Rehman Padder's native village, Mr. Malik arrived with hundreds of protesters who raised slogans such as `SSP Ko Phansi Do' and 'Kashmir Hamara Chod Do.'
Prior to his address, angry mobs tried to set fire to the house of Constable Farooq Ahmad , a key suspect in the fake encounter. Though the house was saved, a cowshed nearby was partially damaged.
Tuesday's strike call by Mr. Malik gained the support of other separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007
THE HINDU
BSF jawan commits suicide in J&K
Srinagar: A Border Security Force jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Havaldar Hari Om Sharma of 133 battalion posted at Natnoosa camp shot himself with his service rifle on Friday, a BSF spokesman said.
The motive for the step was not immediately known, he said. The body has been sent for post-mortem and its report is awaited.
Sunday, Jan 28, 2007
THE HINDU
CBI chargesheet ready against 5 Army personnel
Special Correspondent
| The accused showed fake recovery of arms and ammunition from 5 killed civilians |
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to file a chargesheet against five Army personnel for killing five innocent civilians six years ago at Pathribal village in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir allegedly in a fake encounter. The agency has decided to prosecute five Army personnel -- Brigadier Ajay Saxen, Lt-Col. Brajendra Pratap Singh, Major Saurabh Sharma, Major Amit Saxena and Subedar Idrees Khan of 7 Rashtriya Rifles for staging a fake encounter to eliminate the five civilians at Pathribal on March 25, 2000. The case was taken up for probe by the CBI in January 2003 on the request of the State government. It was found during the investigation that following the killing of 36 Sikhs at Chhittising Pora on March 20, 2000, the Army unit of 7 RR located in Anantnag district was under tremendous psychological pressure to show results as charges of inefficiency and ineffectiveness on their part were being hurled. Brig. Ajay Saxena, the then Major B.P. Singh, Major Saurabh Sharma, Subedar Idrees Khan and other identified personnel of 7 RR allegedly entered into a conspiracy to pick up some innocent persons and stage-manage an encounter to create the impression that the militants responsible for Chhittising Pora killings had been neutralised. During investigation, the accused claimed that they had received information regarding the militants from the then Superintendent of Police Farooq Khan on the night of March 24, 2000 and had carried out ``Operation Swift'' in Panchalthan forests on March 25 morning, resulting in the death of five civilians. |
THE HINDU
FIRs expose Army's hand in civilian killings
VENTING THEIR ANGER: People raise anti-police slogans as they carry the body of Nazir Ahmed Deka after it was exhumed in Saloora, 25 km from Srinagar, on Friday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad
Praveen Swami
| Rashtriya Rifles and rogue police officers teamed up for rewards and promotions |
VENTING THEIR ANGER: People raise anti-police slogans as they carry the body of Nazir Ahmed Deka after it was exhumed in Saloora, 25 km from Srinagar, on Friday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad
SRINAGAR: At least three separate Indian Army units in Jammu and Kashmir participated in a series of cold-blooded murders of innocent civilians organised by a group of rogue police officers in Ganderbal, near Srinagar.
Documents obtained by The Hindu establish that officers of the 5 Rashtriya Rifles, the 13 Rashtriya Rifles, and the 24 Rashtriya Rifles staged encounters and filed false First Information Reports — to make it appear that the civilian victims were terrorists who had been killed in legitimate counter-insurgency operations.
The murders first came to light last month following an internal investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Kokernag resident Abdul Rahman Padder. A special investigation team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police later established that Mr. Padder's killing was part of a series of murders carried out to make the perpetrators eligible for rewards and promotions.
The fake FIRs
FIR 203, filed by the Army on October 5, 2006, records that "multiple ambushes were laid by 13 RR along with SOG Sumbal and JKP at Baazipora [map location] MT 5735." According to the Army, a Karachi-based terrorist code-named Abu Zahid was killed in the operation. An assault rifle and a wireless set were recovered, it claimed. However, investigators have now determined that the supposed terrorist was in fact Shaukat Khan, a cleric from Banihal in Doda district. Like the other victims, Mr. Khan was reported missing from Srinagar shortly before his death — in this case from the Zadibal area, near the Hazratbal shrine.
Earlier, on February 17, 2006, the 5 Rashtriya Rifles claimed to have shot dead an unidentified terrorist. According to the Army, it recovered a Kalashnikov rifle, ammunition, and a pistol from the body. Now, however, police investigators and local residents have identified the body as that of Kokernag resident Nasir Ahmad Deka. A briefcase Mr. Deka used to store the cheap perfumes he hawked on Srinagar kerbsides was recovered in raids on the home of assistant sub-inspector Farooq Ahmad Guddu, a key member of the rogue police ring who was arrested last week. A bottle of perfume was also discovered on Mr. Deka's body after it was exhumed on Friday.
In another case that has been reopened for investigation, a missing Larnoo resident, Ali Mohammad Padroo, is believed to have been killed by the rogue police unit and troops of the 24 Rashtriya Rifles near Kangan. FIR 25 of 2006, filed at Kangan by the Army unit, again claimed that Mr. Padroo was an "unidentified terrorist."
The fifth victim
Troops of the 24 Rashtriya Rifles were also responsible for the killing of Ghulam Nabi Wani, a fifth victim whose body was identified by his relatives on Friday. FIR 52, filed at Sumbal on March 14, 2006, documents that troops, as in the other cases, claimed to have killed an unidentified terrorist.
There have been other cases of atrocities against Kashmiri civilians by the security forces. For example, 12 Army personnel, including the 18 Rashtriya Rifles' then-commanding Colonel R. Pandey, are facing proceedings for murdering four labourers at Devsar Lolab in April 2004, and passing them off as terrorists.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have so far arrested two men from the ranks, including Mr. Guddu. Ganderbal Senior Superintendent of Police H.R. Parihar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Bahadur Ram have been removed from active service pending investigation. However, the Army has yet to make public what action it intends to take.
A spokesperson for the Srinagar-based 15 Corps did not respond to phone calls.
Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
THE HINDU
Missing facts on Kashmir disappearances
Praveen Swami
| Tallies of the numbers of those missing vary widely. But this should not be used to stonewall action against the perpetrators of human rights violations. |
"MURDER," WROTE William Shakespeare, "will out."
News of the cold-blooded murder of five civilians by Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have demonstrated, once again, the inexorable working of this maxim. What hasn't become transparent, though, is either the scale or significance of such incidents.
For the most part, reportage on disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir has consisted of little other than variations on a standard set of narrative motifs: faded photographs of the victim, his grieving mother or sister, his orphaned child. While emotionally compelling, such accounts tell us little of just how widespread such killings in fact are.
Ever since this newspaper obtained documents establishing that at least three separate Rashtriya Rifles battalions murdered civilians in cold blood, and then passed them off as unidentified terrorists, these questions have occupied the centre stage of political life in Jammu and Kashmir. Sadly, there have been few answers.
Facts and fiction
In 2003, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed moved to fill the fact void. In an effort to draw votes from supporters of the secessionist movement and win the support of the Hizbul-Mujahideen, Mr. Sayeed promised a full investigation into what he then characterised as large-scale killings of innocent civilians.
Within months, the government introduced numbers to the argument. In March 2003, Law Minister Muzaffar Beig announced that 3,744 people were missing from Jammu and Kashmir — a figure that was seized on by activists to claim that their allegations of large-scale enforced disappearances had been vindicated.
Mr. Beig's figure was, however, only a compilation of the numbers of persons reported to be missing for any reason at all. Later that year, Chief Minister Sayeed declared that just 60 persons had in fact "disappeared" since 1990 — or, put more bluntly, had been established to have been kidnapped and then presumably murdered by security forces.
Mr. Sayeed's figures came from scrutiny of a list of 743 provided to the Jammu and Kashmir Government by human rights groups, notably the Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons. Led by Parveena Ahanger, the mother of one of those missing, and lawyer Parvez Imroz, the APDP had fought a sustained campaign on the issue.
Investigators first focussed their attention on the 84 disappearances human rights activists said had taken place between November 2002, when Mr. Sayeed took power, and August 2003. Of these, the Jammu and Kashmir Police discovered, the names and addresses of only 58 tallied with actual individuals.
For example, the lists put out by human rights activists contained the name of Mohammad Altaf Yatoo of Aripathan village in Beerwah. Investigators, however, obtained signed statements from Aripathan residents that no one of that name had ever lived in the village.
Of the 58 verifiable cases, the police said, 26 were traced to their homes — a fact journalists were able to cross-check with relative ease. Another "disappeared" individual turned out to be in Srinagar central jail. Six others, the police said, had turned terrorists, while two were kidnapped by jihadi groups. Still others had been killed in exchanges of fire.
While human rights groups protested part of these findings, no full rebuttal was prepared. Given that organisations such as the APDP had long been claiming that between 8,000 and 10,000 individuals had been victims of enforced disappearances, the failure to put out a credible list of just a few hundred was a significant failure.
Research failures
One key problem, journalist Masood Husain reported in The Economic Times in September 2003, were Mr. Imroz's data-management procedures: "Lacking an organised data bank, another of his colleagues said they go on making the missing list on basis of the complaints they receive but there are no deletions."
Much of the literature on the subject, moreover, did not comprehend the distinction between missing persons and those subject to human rights violations. "Did They Vanish Into Thin Air," a compilation painstakingly prepared by journalist Zahir-ud-Din and often referred to in the literature, reflects the confusion.
A moving and passionate work, Mr. Zahir-ud-Din's compilation suffers from its failure to draw distinctions between innocent civilians kidnapped and killed by security forces and terrorists who crossed into Pakistan — individuals for whom the Jammu and Kashmir Government or Indian Army cannot reasonably be expected to account for.
For example, several independent media accounts have said there were thousands of young men from Jammu and Kashmir living in jihadi training facilities or refugee centres in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Others may have been killed while crossing the Line of Control — but security forces would have no way of establishing their identity.
Shoddy research has contributed to the confusion. In a November 16, 2003, article published in the Karachi-based Dawn, activist Rita Manchanda reported the illegal detention of Srinagar resident Tariq Lone in an operation that involved "the J Branch, the office of the Intelligence Bureau."
In fact, the Intelligence Bureau has no `J' Branch. The Border Security Force, which was also by Ms. Manchanda's account involved in the case, does have a `G' Branch, which among other things provides counter-terrorism intelligence. It is unclear, however, if this is the organisation Ms. Manchanda is referring to.
Activists have done themselves no favours with overblown comparisons of events in Jammu and Kashmir with the carnages perpetrated by General Augusto Pinochet's military regime in Chile or even Nazi Germany — comparisons that serve only to valorise the dissent of those who use them, rather than accurately describe reality.
But India's use of such errors to stonewall action against the perpetrators of human rights violations both demeans its democratic project and undermines the credibility of its institutions. Even if Mr. Sayeed was correct in asserting that just 60-odd enforced disappearances have taken place since 1990, that is still five dozen too many.
As Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad pointed out, it would naïve to expect zero human rights violations in the midst of a quasi-war. But the Ganderbal killings have demonstrated that the system can deliver justice when it chooses — after all, had investigators thrown away a mobile phone the truth about the murders would never have been known.
Mr. Azad has now put the figure of the missing at 1,017, after removing the names of who are known to be terrorists or living in Pakistan.
If he is serious about undoing the harm the Ganderbal killings have inflicted on India's credibility, the Chief Minister may do well to ensure those cases — and any future complaints — are fully investigated.
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007
20070306
THE HINDU
Probe assured into all "cases of missing"
Shujaat Bukhari
JAMMU: The Additional Superintendent of Police, Anantnag, Javed Iqbal Mattoo, on Monday assured protesters that all the cases of missing people would be reopened and a fair investigation conducted. In Srinagar, hundreds of people marched through the city demanding the whereabouts of their missing kin.
"There will be no let-up in our efforts to identify the guilty and punish them under the law of the land," he told the protesters in Kokernag.
"The police are collecting details about the missing persons in this district and thorough enquiries will be carried out in all such cases."
Surcharged atmosphere
As the atmosphere was surcharged, a Central Reserve Police Force constable was arrested after he fired some rounds of bullets while on guard at the protest rally. "It was a panic reaction," said an official.
Encouraged by the findings of the Special Investigation Team probing the killing of carpenter Abdul Rehman Padder, the relatives of several persons who disappeared over the past few years took out a protest in Srinagar on Monday.
Joined by hundreds of sympathisers, the protesters marched from downtown Srinagar to the Divisional Commissioner's office. They demanded an investigation into the cases of missing persons as in the case of Padder, whose body was exhumed a few days ago.
The protest began as residents of Gojwara area staged a dharna demanding an investigation into the case of one Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, missing since 2000.
The protesters were soon joined by people from the adjoining localities and slogans such as "We want justice ... We want [to know] the whereabouts of our missing kin" rent the air.
Chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons Parveena Ahangar said the Government should set up a judicial commission to look into all the cases. "Our stand is vindicated," she told The Hindu adding that it was the responsibility of the Government to tell "us where our dear ones are."
Her son disappeared in Army custody in August 1990.
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007
20061207
20061205
20061203
Kashmiris Voices
Kashmiris Voices
What is happening these days on both sides of Line of control ?
Simple answer: Both armies are killing Kashmiris.
Why are they killing Kashmiris ?
Simple answer: Both have only one solution for Kashmir problem,and that is:MUKAWE KASHMIRIEN NAU,KHAT’M KARO NA KASHMIRIYOON KO,(KILL ALL KASHMIRIS AND FINISH THE KASHMIR PROBLEM).
What are army of India,militants, terrorists and anti-national movement elements doing ?
Simple answer: They are killing innocent people by massacring them in the Algerian
style.In this way they are helping both Indian and Pakistan rulers to finish off the Kashmiri people.
What is the world’s conscience doing?
Simple answer: The world conscience is doing a job in the State Department of the U.S.A.and the West.They are also busy in Iraq and Palestine,killing the people of these countries with enormous petro-dollar bootyformrich Muslim countries.They have no ears to listen and no eyes to see the unfortunate Kashmiri.
What are the Muslims of the world doing ?
Simple answer: They are licentious.
What are the Kashmiris doing ?
Simple answer:Waiting for Gods help.“Someday ALLAH may help us.”
What is God (ALLAH) doing ?
Simple answer: God is sending blind rulers to rule over the Indians and Pakistanis (blind of thinking and blind of the poor peoples feelings) because Indian and Pakistan rulers are spending billions of dollars on nuclear programs to finish each other off. If there is hesitation in destruction by weapons of mass destruction then in that case they will resort to economic destruction of each other. It could be Gods revenge.
How can the people of India and Pakitan save themselves from the re-venge
of God?
Simple answer: Both countries must withdraw from both parts of Kashmir. Let our Kashmir be united and let our Kashmir become an inde-pendent state.
“If the struggle for freedom was to be stopped by court rulings,there would have been hardly any free nation on earth today.If the evolution of civilization, democracy and freedom was to be prevented by the existing judicial or administrative system no revolu-tion would have taken place from the begining of history.”
"Leave before Kashmir becomes ghostly for you!"
The reality of India,however,to every ordinary Kashmiri, is an ugly,vicious reality they encounter every day,every ten steps at every checkpost,during every humiliating search.According to the Indian army,there are never at any time more than 3,000-4,000 militants operating in the Valley.But there are between 5,00,000-8,00,000 Indian soldiers there.An armed soldier for every 10-15 people.
By way of comparison,there are 1,60,000 US soldiers in Iraq.Clearly,the Indian army is not in Kashmir to control militants,it is there only to control the Kashmiri people.
In totally misrepresenting the truth of what’s really going on.How can we even talk of ‘solutions’ when we simply deny the reality ?
-Arundhati Roy Speaks
Location
Kashmir is located in the heart of south central Asia amongst the most populace
countries of the world.It shares its borders with China,Afghani-stan,India and Pakistan.
Area
84471 square miles, It is larger than 95 other independent countries in area. Nearly 63% of its territory is held under Indian control,37% under Pakistani control, which includes an area less than 5% known as Azad Kashmir.
Religious Affiliation of Populace
Indian controlled Kashmir (7.3 million)
· · · · · Muslims 64%
· Non-Muslims 36%
Pakistan controlled Kashmir (4.3 million)
· · · · · Muslims 100%
Languages
Urdu (official) Kashmiri (mostly), regional languages like Dogri,Hindi, Dardi, Pahari, Englishis widely spoken.
Area under Indian control: (50513 sq. miles).
a) Ladakh: 33740 sq. miles.
b) Kashmir province: 6893 sq. miles.
c) Jammu province: 9880 sq. miles.
Area under Pakistan control: (33958 sq.miles).
a) Gilgit & Baltistan: 29814 sq. miles.
b) Muzaffarabad & Poonch valley: 4144 sq. miles.
Area under Chinese control:
In the December 1962 war with India,China occupied 1971 sq. miles from Indian held Kashmir at Aksai-chinand Demochok in Ladakh.In December 1962,1868 sq.miles were conditionally taken over by China at Shaksgam.
Capitals
*Srinagar, (summer capital) Indian controlled part.
*Jammu, (winter capital) Indian controlled part.
*Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir (Pakistan controlled part) .
Timeline
· Up to 1325: Ruled by 155 independent and sovereign Rajas.
· 1325 to 1585: Ruled by independent.
. (1420 to 1470)
“Golden period of Kashmir history.”
.Periods of Occupation and Struggle for Freedom
· 1586 to 1752: Mughal Rule.
· 1752 to 1819:Tyrannical Afghan Rule.
· 1819 to 1846:Colonized by Sikhs.
· 16 March 1846:British sold Kashmir to Dogras.
· 1846 to 1947:Dogra Rule.
· 15 August 1947: Partition of British India Indo- Pak war to gain control over the territory of Kashmir
· 22 Oct.1947 : Pakistani backed tribal Invasion of Kashmir.
· 24 Oct. 1947: Pakistan occupies onethird of Kashmir Provisional Government of Azad Kashmir proclaimed.
· 27 Oct. 1947: Indian military intervention in Kashmir two thirds of Kashmir occupied by India.
Daily War is Peace
The question is that in the lightof what has beensaid above ,what could be the basison which the Indians would want the people of the State to remain associated with them?
“Kashmir has been wrongly looked upon as a prize for India or Pakistan.People seem to forget that Kashmir is not a commodity for sale or to be bartered.It has an individual existence and its people must be the final arbiters of their future.”
-- Zahida Pirani.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)