[Reader-list] Killer Facts: Kashmir Cauldron - year of teenage killings

[Aditya Raj Baul]

Killer Facts: Kashmir Cauldron - year of teenage killings

http://www.kashmirlife.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=57&Itemid=199
 Volume 2, Issue 19

Saturday, 03 July 2010 07:16

Despite probes and assurances of zero tolerance for human rights
violations, civilian killings have continued under the NC-Congress
coalition government since it took over in January 2009.

January 07, 2009: A deaf and dumb person Abdul Rashid Reshi, 45, of
Pahalgam was killed in army firing near CM residence in Gupkar. Police
claimed that Reshi was on reconnaissance mission for a possible
Fidayeen attack. Some protests and condemnation followed the first
killing of Omar Abdullah regime. Both Army and police initiated
separate inquiries with zero results.

January 31, 2009: Ali Mohammad Bhat son of Ghulam Rasool of Vewan,
Bandipore was allegedly killed by army in their custody. Army claimed
he died of prolonged illness.

February 02, 2009: Army allegedly kills a tailor, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, 32,
of Lolab Kupwara. Army claimed that Mir died in exchange of fire.
Police registers case after massive protests. Police later indicted
troops of 18 RR in Fayaz’s killing but no arrests were made. Fayaz is
survived by wife Tahira, and four children Irfan, 9, Javaid, 8, Nida
Jan, 7, and Saqib.

February 22, 2009: Army personnel at Bomai Sopore, killed two youth
Mohammad Amin Tantray, 23, and Javed Ahmed Dar, 24, which triggered
massive protests across the valley. Bomai residents launch a
month-long agitation demanding the removal of the army camp from the
area. On March 29, the army camp was removed from the area but
troopers are yet to be punished.

March 06, 2009: Mohammad Shahid Ahanger is killed by the paramilitary
forces at Nowhatta during a demonstration. Police register a case
against the CRPF.

March 18, 2009: Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, 33, a carpenter is killed by
CRPF troopers at Pakherpora after they barge into his house. Violent
protests follow.

April 19, 2009: A retired policeman Sham-ud-Din is allegedly killed
during an encounter with militants at Kandi Nathnusa village in
Baramulla. Protests follow.

May 07, 2009:  Mohammed Sadiq is allegedly killed by army in their
custody at Doda. A team headed by ADC records the statement of locals
and family members. Army denies the allegation saying Sadiq was killed
during crossfire.

May 12, 2009: Amina, 17 is killed reportedly in an “exchange of fire”
between militants and troops in Kishtwar. Locals denounced the
official version and accused the army of gunning her down. Protests
follow, compensation is given by administration.

May18, 2009: A car dealer Manzoor Ahmad Beigh, 40, summoned by a
special operations group (SOG) of police to the headquarter returns
dead. Protests follow and an inspector of SOG is dismissed from
service.

May 29, 2009: Asiya Jan, 17, and her sister-in-law Nilofer Jan, 24,
are allegedly raped and killed by unknown persons. People suspect
security forces. Violent protests engulf Kashmir valley injuring
hundreds of people. Reluctant government confirms rape and murder on
June 10 after repeated denials. Shopian opens after 47 days of strike
when High Court orders arrest of police officials for their role in
the episode. Many inquiries and probes followed including the last one
by CBI, which pronounced that both the women died due to drowning. The
CBI claimed that there was no rape and Asiya was still a virgin.

 June 29, 2009: Four youths are killed by CRPF in Baramulla during
demonstration to protest the alleged eve teasing of a woman by a
police official on June 29. Massive demonstrations follow, hundreds
are injured and curfew was clamped in Baramulla.

July 09, 2009: Amina Masoodi, a BA final year student is killed inside
her house during the night intervening July 08 and 09 by a Territorial
Army man at Dolipora Trehgam. After massive protests police arrest the
accused trooper Ashiq Hussain of 160 Territorial Army.

October 02, 2009: Irfan Ahmad, 11, son of Ghulam Rasool Lone of
Drangbal is killed after police fire teargas to disperse people
protesting the continued detention of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Irfan
died when a tear gas shell hit him in the head. Massive demonstrations
erupt for four days in Baramulla.

October 26, 2009: Sajad Ahmad Lone, 24, of Ganapore village was killed
by Army troopers. Army claimed that Lone tried to attack them with an
axe. Massive protests followed as people accused army of arresting,
torturing and killing Sajad in custody. Deputy Commissioner Kupwara
ordered a magisterial inquiry. The inquiry report was never made
public. Army too ordered an internal inquiry.

January 08, 2010:  Inayat Khan, 16, of Dalgate was killed in CRPF
firing at Budshah Chowk, while he was returning home after attending
computer classes at Kukerbazaar. Widespread protests followed the
first such death of 2010. Ex-gratia relief was offered to victim’s
family but no inquiry or punishment to CRPF followed. Inayat was an
11th standard student.

January 24, 2010: Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, 35, of Kalumpora Pulwama was
killed during an encounter between militants and troops. Mir was
allegedly used as a human shield during the encounter by 44 Rashtriya
Rifles Shadimarg Camp and SOG Pulwama. Massive protests followed the
killing. Police say they are looking into the matter.

January 31, 2010: Wamiq Farooq, 13, a student of class seven and a
resident of Rainawari was killed when a teargas shell fired by police
hits him on his head. Massive protests followed and police claimed to
have suspended the accused Assistant Sub-Inspector. Later the police
changed the version and described Wamiq as a stone pelter. Wamiq’s
parents have approached the court.

February 05, 2010: Zahid Farooq, 16, of Nishat is killed when a BSF
party without any provocation confronts two teenagers and fires at one
of them at Kralsangri Brain. After initial denial, BSF later admitted
of killing and handed over two of its accused personnel Commandant RK
Birdi and constable Lakhvinder to police. BSF is seeking transfer of
case to its Court. Zahid was the only son among three siblings.

April 13, 2010:  Zubair Ahmad Bhat, 17, was allegedly drowned forcibly
by a CRPF party who were chasing a group of stone pelters. Witnensses
said Zubair and his friends were resting on the banks of Jhelum at
Jamia Qadeem, Sopore and CRPF used batons and stones to force them to
jump in Jhelum. Zubair, a class 11 student, unable to swim was
drowned. Boatmen trying to save him were met with teargas. Police
described it an accident. Zubair’s elder brother, Ehsan-ul-Haq had
been killed by troopers in 2006.

April 13, 2010: Army claimed to have killed oldest militant aged 65 in
an encounter in Pahaldaji village in Handwara. A Lolab family
identified the ‘aged militant’ as their father Habibullah, who was a
beggar. Army modified its claim by saying that he might have been used
as a guide or a human shield. Police registered a murder case against
army and started a probe.

April 24, 2010:  Troops of Rashtriya Rifles 53 Bn opened fire during
an ambush near Chewan village in Kellar area of Shopian killing one
civilian Ghulam Ahmed Kalas alias Khuda Bakhsh along with two of his
horses carrying timber. Massive protests followed in which people for
the first time torched two army vehicles. Police registered a murder
case against Army. The deceased was father of eight.

April 29, 2010: Army kills three civilians Muhammad Shafi, Shehzad
Ahmad and Riyaz Ahmad of Rafiabad in a fake encounter in Machhil and
pass them off as militants. The incident came to light when the
families of the three missing persons identified the three as their
missing kin through pictures and their clothes. Protests follow and
bodies were exhumed. Police registers a case and arrests three,
including a trooper of Territorial Army. Some army personnel including
a Major are identified as accused, but have not been arrested.

June 11, 2010: Tufail Ahmad Matoo, 17, was killed when police aimed a
teargas shell at his head at Rajouri Kadal. His skull was broken and
brain splattered allover the place causing an instant death.
Police first denied its role even blamed the people who removed Tufail
to hospital. Autopsy confirmed the use of firearm as cause of his
death. An inquiry has been ordered. Tufail was the lone child of his
parents.

June 19, 2010:  In the protests following Tufail’s killing, CRPF
troopers caught hold of 24-year-old handicraft artisan Mohammed Rafiq
Bangroo of Dana Mazaar. He was ruthlessly beaten with gun butts and
batons smashing his head. The critically injured Bangroo was taken to
SKIMS hospital where he went into coma and ultimately died on June 19,
2010. Massive protests followed. No inquiry is ordered.

June 20, 2010: Two porters Aziz Malik and Mazloom Malik from village
Chuntwari in Machil are killed at LOC. Army puts the blame on firing
from across the LOC by Pakistan army. Families accuse army of killing
them in cold blood. Autopsy revealed the deceased were shot from close
range strengthening the doubts of a staged killing. Police says it is
inquiring into the matter.

June 20, 2010: Javid Ahmad Malla 17, a relative of Rafiq Bangroo was
killed when CRPF opened fire at protestors during Bangroo’s funeral
procession. He died on the spot. Forced to discontinue his studies due
to poverty Javid was working in a bag manufacturing unit to support
his parents. The chief minister directed Divisional Commissioner to
probe the killing and report in one week, but at the same time termed
the mob which was fired upon as suicidal as they tried to torch a CRPF
bunker.

June 25, 2010: CRPF personnel fired on people who were demanding
bodies of two militants killed during an encounter. Two youths Shakeel
Ahmad Ganai, 24, and Firdous Ahmad Khan, 20, were killed sending
entire Sopore up in protest. Government ordered a judicial inquiry
headed by the chairman of State Human Rights Commission, Justice
Bashir-ud-Din.

June 27, 2010: CRPF fired on a small group of protesters who were
demanding punishment against troopers for killing the two civilians.
Bilal Ahmed Wani 23, who was watching the small protest, was hit by a
bullet. He was declared brought dead at the hospital. Bilal was a
daily-wager in PHE department and had four sisters. The panicky
government accused CRPF of being a loose cannon and described the
firing as unwarranted saying the protest of 20 odd youth could have
been dealt with more humanely.

June 28, 2010: In its continuing killing spree CRPF fired on a protest
march in Delina Baramulla killing a nine year old Tufail Ahmad Rather
on the spot.
Another youth Tajamul Bashir Bhat, 21, was killed in CRPF firing near
Kapra theatre in Sopore. A first year student of Degree College Sopur,
Tajamul worked as a part time labourer too.

June 29, 2010: Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khanday, 15,  Shujaat-ul-Islam, 18, and
Imtiyaz Ahmad Itoo, 18, were killed in Anantnag when police and CRPF
caught hold of them after chasing the protestors. They were allegedly
shot inside residential compounds.
Ishtiyaq and Shujaat-ul-Islam were students and Imtiyaz was working as
a helper with a baker. Ishtiyaq was a lone son of his parents.
Government orders a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The probe
will be headed by Additional District Magistrate Ghulam Muhammad Dar.