Conflict

Stone pelters violate human rights of personnel, complain army kids, NHRC takes cognizance

FPK Photo/ Vikar Syed.

New Delhi: Three Army kids have filed a complaint in the National Human Rights Commission seeking it’s intervention for an inquiry in the recent Shopian case in which three civilians were murdered by the Army.

The NHRC has taken cognizance of the complaint and has asked the state government to give them the present status of the case and the steps taken by the government in this regard.

Raising the issue of the safety of soldiers and officers of the Indian Army, deployed in encounter insurgency areas in Jammu & Kashmir and other states, three army kids sought to draw the attention of the Commission to the ‘frequent instances of violation of human rights of the army personnel, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.’

ALSO READ: Accused Major’s father moves SC, says FIR will hurt the morale of the Army

Asking defence ministry to send a factual report in the matter, NHRC has sought to know the present status of the situation and steps taken by the government on the points raised by the army kids regarding alleged humiliation and violation of the human rights of the army personnel in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

“The complaint has been filed by the three children of the officers of Indian Army, maintaining that they are disturbed by the recent incidents of stone pelting and assaults by unruly and disruptive mob on security forces. They alleged, quoting news reports, that the attack on an army convoy in Shopian district was completely unprovoked an unwarranted; still an FIR was registered against the army personnel. They quoted, date wise, a series of incidents wherein, allegedly, the army faced hostilities from the very people, it was deployed to protect. Not only that, even FIRs were registered against the army, ” said a statement by NHRC.

ALSO READ: Shopian Civilian Murders: Continuous deaths and endless mourning

Last month two civilian were murdered by the Army after a crowd threw stones at them. They had come to remove ‘black banners’ which the people didn’t allow.

The army according to eyewitnesses retaliated with firing. Witnesses added that army fired upon youth directly resulting in the injuries of at least 11 persons.

Another youth who was injured in the incident succumbed to his injuries taking the toll to three. Shopian observed a complete shutdown against the killings for about 10 days.

The Army on Wednesday however said that they fired in ‘self defence’ after they were provoked to the ‘ultimate’ by a stone throwing crowd.

The BJP, coalition partner of the ruling PDP had demanded that the FIR against the Army should  withdrawn and a new one lodged without naming anyone. However, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the investigation would be taken to its ‘logical end.’

A BJP leader Subramanian Swamy  threatened Mehbooba Mufti to withdraw the FIR against the army otherwise her government would be toppled.

“What’s this nonsense? Dismiss that government. Tell Mehbooba (Mufti) to withdraw the FIR else her government would be toppled,” Swamy told ANI.

Click to comment
To Top