Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Friday termed the killing of youth at Sopore as an extra-judicial murder and wondered if the armed forces in Kashmir including Police were following their whims and moods while throwing out the window the standard operating procedures as mandated the authorities. The commission as censured Government Forces for killing a youth on Monday in Krankshivan Sopore terming it a gross human rights violation.
Taking suo-motto cognizance of the killing, the acting Chairperson of SHRC, Rafiq Fida, in his order stated that it seemed the law enforcing agencies were either ignorant of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or were willfully bent upon to throw the SOPs to winds and follow their own whims and mood.
The Commission has issued notices to sought factual report on the incident from state police chief, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla and SP Sopore.
Reports said that quoting the report Youth killed, 4 injured in Sopore firing, Forces fire at protestors following protests over militants killing. published in a News Paper on Tuesday, the Commission stated how government forces allegedly resorted to indiscriminate firing to disperse protesters at an encounter site at Krankshivan, Colony, on Monday and curfew was imposed in the area to contain the situation while authorities have ordered inquiry to ascertain the facts about the incident, the news report reads that a militant was killed in the encounter while another militant gave slip to the forces in the 20-hour long gunfight and when the operation parties were being withdrawn after the encounter, the protestors clashed with the forces who in turn retaliated with firing resulting in killing of a the youth identified as Arshad Ahmad Shah (28) son of Abdul Aziz Shah resident of Naseem Bagh, Sopore, a driver by profession, and injuring four other identified as Naseer Ahmad Beg (25) of Chankhan, Abid Gujri (18) of Naseem Bagh, Shahid Ahanger (28) of Naseer Bagh and Ilyas Ahmad Shalla (25) of Naseem Bagh and the condition of Ilyas was critical.
The news report suggests that the operation parties, which included personnel from Army, CRPF and Police, have allegedly resorted to indiscriminate firing on the protestors as a result of which an unfortunate youth Arshad lost his life and four other got injured. Therefore, the operation parties are alleged to have committed grave violation of human rights. In case the protestors clashed with the operation parties when they were withdrawing after the completion of encounter, they should have and exercised maximum restraint to avoid such casualties and thereby show some respect for human rights. The unfortunate killing of Arshad and injuring four others is unwarranted. The Commission has continuously been recommending for imparting training and education to the men with gun and uniform regarding the basic concepts of Human Rights, so that such kind of human rights violations are stopped in the State.
The Commission further states that the news report manifests that the incident is prima facie extrajudicial execution and makes out a grave violation and abuse of human rights.
The news reports prima facie makes out a case of human rights violations. Therefore, taking suo moto cognizance in the matter, office is directed to register this note and the news report of daily Greater Kashmir dated June 24, 2014, which shall form part of this order, as a complaint and in the first instance issue notices to Director General of Police, J&K, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla and SP Sopore who be supplied with copies of this order and the news report and directed to submit their respective detailed factual reports in the matter. In case any enquiry has been ordered in the matter, the authorities be asked to share the findings thereof with the Commission.
The Commission has also asked the father of the deceased youth of Naseem Bagh Sopore and other injured to appear on the next date of hearing and file correct statement of facts regarding the incident. The case is next fixed for hearing on August 6 this year.
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