Baramulla driver alleges army captain forcing him to spy

BARAMULLA:    While displaying his bruised body, Muhammad Afsar Khan, the father of seven daughters from Baramulla’s Binner area, says that an army captain from the F-Company of 46 Rashtriya Rifles has been subjecting him to torture for past one year, in order to compel him to become army’s informer against the militants. Afsar Khan, who is a former conduit of militants, alleged that Captain that for past one year compelling him to act as his informer.  Army has dismissed the allegation as “baseless”.

“I am a driver by profession and in 1995 I was working for militant outfit Al-Baraq as upper ground worker. I never crossed the border. Like other Kashmiri youth I shunned the path of militancy and started living a peaceful life. Everything was fine till last year,” CNS quoted Afsar Khan as said on Tuesday Khan alleges that Captain Balihan aka Major Saleem aka Gabbar Singh had offered him a share of “rewards” that would be earned  in lieu of arresting or killing the militants. He said that his refusal to work for the captain proved costly.

“My refusal infuriated him and from that day he started harassing me and my family on the one or the other pretext. Why should I act as an Army informer for a petty sum? I don’t want to get killed because I have seven daughters,” Afsar Khan said.

He said in January this year Captain Balihan picked him up and interrogated him. “When my wife informed the Panch Syed Shah and another respectable citizen Ghulam Muhammad Bhat about my illegal detention, he set me free on the condition that we will not take up the matter with the higher authorities,” he said.

Khan’s wife Zahida despites assurances that he will never touch her husband again, “I was shocked on May 29  when my father informed me that Captain Balihan dragged my husband from the vehicle near Stadium Gate Baramulla and took him along inside the army camp.”

“I was on way to Baramulla to fetch rice when Captain Balihan stopped the vehicle and detained me. He took me inside a dark room. He along with his body guards interrogated me without any reason. The body guards of another Captain Pradhan joined the chorus. I can easily identify them. They forced me to undress and used all their energy to torture me. It was a nightmare and they continuously interrogated me for four hours,” Afsar said adding that his ears, nose and mouth bled profusely after the ruthless beating . “Have a look over my body and see what they did to me,” he said while displaying torture marks on his body.

Afsar said that when his condition deteriorated during interrogation, Captain Balihan  handed him over to the local police. “Initially, after seeing my condition, police refused to take me along but finally they shifted me to Kantabagh hospital and treated me well,” he said adding that his mobile phone was still lying with the said Captain. He alleged that the Captain also snatched Rs 10,000 from him during the interrogation.

Muhammad Afsar Khan alleged that during interrogation, Captain Balihan hanged an AK-47 rifle around his neck and a pistol in his hand and while clicking several photographs, told him that, “this is sufficient proof to dub you as a hardcore militant whenever I wish to.”

Afsar Khan appealed army authorities to take cognizance of the matter and save him from the wrath of the said Captain.

Srinagar based Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel N.N.Joshi has rubbished the allegations. He said,  “it is only an attempt to malign the image of the army. Afsar Khan was an active OGW whose activities came to light. Based on the inputs, he was apprehended and handed over to police on the same day,” Joshi said.  

Another army official from Badami Bagh Cantonment wishing not to be named vehemently refuted these allegations and said that Army does not believe in physical torture. “The said person was called for questioning on May 29 during day hours and was handed over to police on the same day. “There were reports against him that he is in touch with militants, but the Army took a lenient view and released him,” he said adding that it is baseless that army has kept his mobile phone and cash. “There is no truth in it and the biggest thing is that one can’t attribute everything to Army. If this fellow has torture marks on his body, that does not suggest that it will be the deed of the army. Army is pro-people and such allegations always widens the gap between army and common people,” he added.  

Deputy Inspector General of Police North Kashmir Range Ghulam Hasan Bhat said that Army had called the said person for questioning. “They released him on the same day after he was found innocent. If he is all praise for the police then he should have approached the top police brass,” he said adding that he would certainly look into the matter.

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