Resistance leaders to protest over Army award in human shield row
The joint resistance leadership has called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the award being to Army officer, who tied a Kashmiri civilian to the bonnet of his jeep during the Srinagar-Budgam by-poll on April 9, here.
The commendation card to Major Leetul Gogoi of 53 Rashtriya Rifles was given for his “sustained efforts” in counter-insurgency operation, but the joint resistance leadership termed the move as “Indian fascism”.
Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Omer Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik expressed strong resentment over award to Major Gogoi, who had used 26 year old Farooq Ahmad Dar as a human shield. They have called for peaceful protest after Friday prayers on 26 May, against what they termed the “inhuman act’’ which they “noted vindicates our claim that India is following fascist dogma and acting as a colonial state.’’
Appealing human rightist organizations, ICJ and Amnesty International for their cognizance and impressed to fulfil their responsibilities in saving precious lives in occupied state. In a joint statement, they blamed Indian leadership for their dictatorial behaviour and said that their forces are involved in war crimes against civilians.
Life and dignity of civilians is at stake, said leadership and while calling it state sponsored terrorism, they added that awarding erring officer for this inhuman and unjustified act vindicates our claim that forces are involved in war crimes and are patronized and encouraged by Indian leadership. This tantamounts to justifying the human rights violations and sending a clear message to the people that they can go to any extent without any apprehension of accountability, said joint leadership.
State has been turned into a high militarized zone and as such India has no legal claim over state instead it is a forcible occupation which they are retaining through its military might, they said.
The leadership said that people in Jammu and Kashmir are following their peaceful struggle to mark an end to the forced occupation and India with its military might is trampling all ethics and inflicting atrocities on civilians, said leadership.
Warning India of dire consequences, joint leadership in their statement said that by inflicting atrocities and denying basic rights they are pushing people to wall and compelling them to show resentment against these repressive measures.
Resistance leadership appealed to the International Court of Justice to take suo moto action against this barbaric act and termed the decision as “extremely distressing” and a shameful act.
Army had earlier feted its Major who has come under scathing attack after tying up a Kashmiri youth to the bonnet of a vehicle but a complaint has been filed against the move.
Human rights activist, Ehsan Untoo, who earlier filed the case with State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) seeking action in the human shield row, has filed a fresh complaint with the Commission for taking action against Army to award its officer. He has noted in the complaint that the Army can’t award a person, who is involved in a grave human rights violation.
“How can they (Army) award its man when the matter is subjudice,’’ he said earlier, adding that he would approach the High Court in case swift action was not taken against the Army Major.
KV Correspondent
