Police charges Army of ‘illegal detention’ in human shield case
State police has formally filed the charges against Army in the human shield case after furnishing a report before the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). The rights body had asked the forces to identify the concerned personnel involved in the act.
Police have however, not made any arrest nor has it identified the concerned unit despite the statement by the youth, Farooq Ahmad Dar that the personnel from 53 RR had picked him up and even detained him at the army camp.
The police informed the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) that they have initiated action in the incident and registered a case against the Army under sections 342, 367 and 506 of RPC.
The police have also disclosed that they have recorded the statements of seven witnesses who have also testified that the soldiers tied Farooq Ahmad Dar to the bonnet of their jeep on April 9, when the elections were held on the Srinagar parliament seat.
Although the video was shot by some youth on April 9, it had gone viral after the internet gag was lifted. While considering the evidence, police have registered a case of wrongful confinement.
Dar was allegedly beaten and paraded through 28 villages in Budgam after he had attended the mourning of one of his relatives. He was picked up at Utligam and subject to wrongful confinement. He has been admitted at the SMHS hospital for the serious mental illness and is under the observation of the doctors on the recommendation of the State Human Rights Commission.
Police have stated before the SHRC that they are in touch with the Army authorities and have also made correspondence with them seeking that the concerned personnel involved in the case may be identified.
Earlier a BJP parliamentarian had called for a “nationwide campaign” in case action was initiated against Major Leetul Gogoi, who was alleged to have tied the youth to the jeep.
“If any kind of action is initiated against brave Maj Gogoi, let’s start a nationwide campaign to support him,” MP Pratap Simha had tweeted. India’s top law officer, attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, had said that the officer should be “applauded” and not criticized.
Twenty six year old, Farooq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Chill Arizal village of Beerwah, was tied with ropes and was used as a “human shield”.
KV Correspondent
