Kashmir Valley-based civil society group, the Group of Concerned Citizens, wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday expressing its concern over the Army’s move to reward a Major who had used a civilian as a human shield.
Signed by Justice (Rtd) Shabir Hasnain Masoodi, former Public Service Commission chairman Shafi Pandit, and ex-chief information commissioner G.R. Sufi, the memorandum described the act of using a Budgam resident, Farooq Ahmad Dar, as a human shield on April 9 in central Kashmir as “outlandish and callous”.
“With the strapping of a civilian to the bonnet of an army vehicle, the abysmal Indian human rights record in J&K has come down to a new low. The dastardly act is totally unjustifiable. It is against human dignity, offends core constitutional values, and violates International Covenants to which India is a signatory. The act is condemnable,” reads the memorandum. The civil society group accused the Army of “legitimising the act by cooking up and concocting facts”.
“It is painful and shocking that instead of expediting the Court of Enquiry proceedings and the investigation against the officer, he was decorated and favoured with an award and is applauded by a person no less than the Union Defence Minister, for an otherwise cowardly act,” it said.
The group claimed the message being sent is that “excesses and human rights violations can be committed with impunity” and “inquiries and investigations are merely an eyewash.”
The civil society group questioned the silence of the state government, especially of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. “Ms. Mufti should have been the first person to strongly protest the grant of award to the army officer and demanded its withdrawal pending investigation. Her silence has condoned the grant of award,” said the memorandum.
2 hit by pellets
Meanwhile, areas of Sopore in north Kashmir and Srinagar witnessed protests over the human shield controversy. Scores of youth hit the streets after Friday prayers and clashed with the security forces.
Two protesters were reportedly injured as security forces opened fire from pellet shotguns to disperse the mob outside Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.
