Mohammed Ahseem
The debate over AFSPA seems to have lost its heat, however the acts of killing innocent Kashmiris are hot as ever. In yet another incident of brazen human rights violation in valley, Army allegedly killed a youth from Aloosa in northern district of Bandipora. Eyewitness accounts of the incident alleged that the youth has been tortured to death in the adjoining forests of Helmathpora. The body of the youth as per the locals had visible torture marks and his hands seemed to have been tied together before his death.
The killing has come in the wake of visit of Defence Minister A K Antony and Army chief General Bikram Singh to the state. The incident has triggered massive protests in the District. In the statement issued by no less than General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 15 Corps Lt General Om Prakash, the youth has been dubbed as a terrorist and the claim of seizure of a weapon along with ammunition has been made quite vociferously. The commander while praising the Army for its discipline emphasized that there is nothing to inquire about the incident as the slain was a terrorist and the encounter was based on solid intelligence inputs. A K Antony while setting aside the statement of Srinagar based commander has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The civilian administration that is modeled to act as pacifiers has also ordered an independent inquiry into the incident, even though, as is precedence here, the grieving people have not been allowed to give vent to their frustration and anger. Fortunately though, the state police, in the first instance, have refused to buy Army’s claim with the apprehensions that the killing may be a case of mistaken identity.
Enquiries and probes, as people very well know are the time tested instruments for buying time in this part of the world.
The visit of minister of state for home Nasir Aslam wani, along with top cops to the aggrieved family was mere eyewash for it seemed to be just a matter of paying a visit for the sake of visit. The minister didn’t utter a single word about the incident.
The AFSPA debate set rolling by the state chief minister last year is fast proving to be mere talk with no body in New Delhi or in Army ready to discuss even the partial withdrawal of the vicious law. With voices of resistance emanating from all files and ranks of Army, the defense ministry and other stake holders, AFSFA seems to part of the reality, Kashmiris have to continue to live with.
The recent decision of Supreme Court of India in the infamous Pathribal faked encounter case, giving armed forces the choice to undertake court martial proceeding against its killer personnel rather than being tried in civil courts, is actually a shot in the arm for the opponents of AFSPA withdrawal. The pronouncement will actually alter the basic nature of all the well investigated and well proven faked encounter cases against armed forces personnel.
The thaw in India Pakistan relations, Kashmir centric CBM’s and booming tourism and successful Yatra apart, the common Kashmiri continues to live in the same fear, the fear of life, he used to, before the turn of the century.
