RIYAZ UL KHALIQ
SRINAGAR
“Shaheed Hilal”, a book documenting life of Hilal Ahmad, a civilian allegedly killed by armed forces and other historic events in Kashmir history was released at a function organized by J&K Coalition of Civil Societies here on Saturday.
Pertinently, the residents of Halmathpora in Aloosa area of Bandipora on July 25 in 2012 had alleged the local youth was picked up and tortured to death, but the Army had claimed that he was a militant killed in an ambush.
“They (Army) were claiming that they have killed a militant, but when we searched his pocket we found an identity card showing the deceased as a local resident,” reports quoting a police officer had said.
A 500 page book has been written by Hilal’s maternal uncle, K M Kamal who has dwelt upon life of Hilal including his killing and aftermath. Besides, author has also written on some historical events of Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, a voluntary BSF retired personnel, Kamal said that many such events are unreported. “I have written about a case wherein four Hufaaz brothers were killed but nobody knows about it and their family’s condition,” he said.
Kamal said that he has been maintaining a diary of events from 2008. “I started keeping a diary of what happens in Kashmir and when my nephew was killed in cold blood, I thought to pen down the reality about it,” he said.
Kamal said that along with his friends and locals of his area, he successfully established a small civil society group which is working on cases like Hilal’s. “We have to see what ‘I, you and Us’ have done. Why to ask and raise finger on others.”
Giving his background, Kamal said, “I am 1975 graduate and later joined Border Security Forces before voluntarily retiring from it in 1990.”
“I had ailing father, mentally retarded brother and three kids then. Seeing the war like situation in those days, I had no option but to come back,” Kamal informed. “I was in service for 23 years living an abandoned life in hills of Ladakh and other regions,” he said. “But time came and I had to come back.” For three years, Kamal was home working in his vegetable fields before joining a private firm as Security Supervisor. Late Hilal was too working in the same firm. Kamal retired in 2010.
Talking about his book, “Shaheed Hilal”, he said that he assembled details for six months first then putting that material in a book form.
“Newspapers have been main source of knowledge,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, noted columnist A M Zargar said that Kashmiris have to write their own narrative. “We have only been reading what outsiders have written on Kashmir but this is commendable that a kin of victim comes forward and narrates his/her own story,” he said while other civil society members supported him.
However, he added, “It hurts when we see Kashmiris involved in the crimes perpetrated by India; take the case of Machil fake encounter.”
Senior journalist Zahir-Ud-Din while commenting up on the book said, “Kamal sahab has done a Kamaal!” “It is a very good thing and he has detailed about the killing besides deliberating upon other Kashmir events.”
THE VICTIM
Hilal was the eldest son of his parents and sole earner in a modest family of six. He was working in a private company as chowkidar and home from the work for making arrangements for his marriage.
2012 reports quoting locals said, “Hilal was an innocent and pious man affiliated with Tableegi Jamaat. They had said that the last evening before his killing, Hilal was on way to Benlipora Masjid, 2 Kilometres from his native village, with dates and Miswakh for his companions but Army picked him up on the way.”
The residents had alleged that Hilal was picked up after offering evening prayers and was tortured to death in the nearby Helmathpora forests.
“Hilal’s Islamic way of life became is the reason of his killing,” Kamal told the audience on Saturday. “Hilal was all against Christian missionaries,” he added. “It did not go well with certain quarters.”
He further said that the accused in the killing of Hilal were let free recently.
Meanwhile, police on its part, has closed the investigation citing lack of “further evidence” as one of the main reasons to close the case.
Reports quoting said, “Interestingly police in its final report have said the victim Hilal Ahmad Dar was killed by an Army source Muhammad Ramzan alias Rameez in a fake encounter here in north Kashmir”. “The investigation has been closed as no further evidences are available,” Police investigation states.
“Earlier Army unit was not cooperating, now they have replied some vital questions, which should be treated as final evidence, hence investigation stands closed,” final supplementary closure report reads.
Following the civilian killing, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmed Lone, had ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
Army too on its part had ordered a probe into the killing of Hilal Ahmad Dar of Bandipora, saying that action would be taken as per law against those found involved in the incident. This is a climb-down from Army’s earlier position in which it had described the killed youth as a militant and the incident as an encounter.
