SRINAGAR: Reacting to the killing of 13 horses belonging to the nomadic Bakerwal community allegedly by the Indian army, Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Ghandi, Monday, said that army should explain why they killed the poor animals and they should make amends for the wrong.
At least 13 horses were killed and three others injured after forces' vehicle ran over them in Frisal area of Kulgam district.
The nomads (Bakerwals) travelling from Pahalgam to Rajouri with sheep and goats along with horses also alleged army beat them.
"We were coming from Pahalgam and as we reached Frisal- via Bijbehara – Yaripora- Shopian route at 2.30 AM, the army men aboard Casper intercepted us," said Muhammad Aslam, one of the Bakerwals.
"They let us go for a couple of hundred meters before they reappeared and killed our horses," Aslam, the bakerwal, said.
He alleged that the army men rammed their vehicle, "not once, not twice but thrice onto the horses, which were lined up on both sides of the road. They first hit the horses on the left and then reversed their vehicle and hit twice more, this time on the right side of the road.”
Abdul Wahid, another Bakerwal said that the incident took place at Damidola crossing of the village.
"The army men came out of the vehicle and beat many of us before fleeing the spot," Wahid said.
Maneka Gandhi who is a staunch animal rights activist also, described the incident as ‘a terrible thing to happen.
“Animals have no part in the quarrels of humans,” she told Kashmir Observer. “They should not be victimized in this brutal fashion.”
“How are incidents like this going to make anything better for all of us,” wondered the animal rights activist, Maneka Gandhi. “If the army has been responsible, they should explain why immediately and make reparations."
“How are incidents like this going to make anything better for all of us,” wondered the animal rights activist, Maneka Gandhi. “If the army has been responsible, they should explain why immediately and make reparations."
Defense PRO, Col. Manish, categorically denied army’s involvement in the killing of animals.
Kulgam police has, however, lodged an FIR-number 109/ 2016 under section 297 of the RPC- against an unidentified vehicle.
A police official from the district confirmed the incident . “We have registered an FIR,” a police source told Kashmir Observer. “It was an unknown army vehicle as Frisal is junction of several roads.”
Demanding a judicial probe into the incident, former Director, Animal Husbandry Department at Government of Jammu and Kashmir,Farooq Ahmad, said the poor tribal have been no less patriotic than any self-proclaimed nationalists and patriots. “These people will never lay the blame at the army's feet,” he said. “They are poor but not cheats. If it is not army's or any government forces' doing, let it be investigated by a panel of sitting judges of J&K High Court.”
Meanwhile senior National Conference leader, Dr Mustafa Kamal described the incident as ‘height of arrogance and rage’ of the security forces.
“They deliberately mowed down about a dozen horses for no rhyme or reason exposing their hatred for the people of the state in general and the majority community in particular,” he said. “Security forces having failed to contain the situation miserably and losing the trust and confidence of the people completely they have now gone berserk.”
Kamal said that Indian forces have ‘satiated themselves over the years with human blood and suffering’. “They are now giving vent to their anger and frustration on domestic animals of these nomads,” he said. “In such a situation no one is safe in J&K at the hands of security forces considering the fact that J&K is packed beyond capacity with the security forces and more being pushed in.”
Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP alliance did not issue any statement with regard to the incident.
The nomadic community comprising Gujjars and Bakerwals have been on the receiving end of the armed conflict raging in the Kashmir valley for the past three decades. Earlier this year in February, several gujjar huts were burnt down by Jammu police. The cops had run amok beating men, women and children after vandalizing their houses. The ensuing commotion resulted into the death of a gujjar youth after police fired upon the protesting members. Government had ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
Bakarwal is a nomadic tribe based in the Pir Panjal and Himalayan mountains of South Asia. They are mainly goatherds and shepherds. They are called as Dhangar in rest of India.
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