Police ‘mum’ on Bandipora massacre to ‘shield culprits’: Ahsan Untoo | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, February 01 (KNO) : Chairman of International Forum for Justice and Human Rights, Muhammad Ahsan on Friday paid tributes to six unarmed civilians killed by the forces. Untoo who has filed petition before the State Human Rights Commission, seeking identification of guilty forces personnel and the ex-gratia to next of kin of slain said because of the non-cooperation of Police, the probe remained hanging since 1992. The INCIDENT On February 01, paramilitary troops opened fire on civilians, killing six of them while injuring dozens others. Recalling the fateful day, the locals say the memories still hunt them. According to a statement issued to KNO, it was Mehraj-e-Alam day, (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad), the troops of BSF came and announced crackdown in the area using the Public Address System of the local mosques. Locals said it was cold and people were offering special prayers in Mosques since previous night. They said the elders of the village requested locals not to lay siege in the village owing to the Mehraj-u-Alam. However BSF refused and asked people to assemble in a local ground and abused the elders. They said the people resisted and refused to assemble according to their dictate and instead carried out a peaceful protest march foiling their attempt. “Our refusal to accept their dictate infuriated the BSF officers who first left the village and then returned with more forces and fired indiscriminately. “They started beating and dragged us to the lawns of Jamia masjid as it was planned to kill us,“ recounts an eyewitness amid tears. “After that an officer came to the lawns opened his pistol and fired from point blank range killing six persons and ordered his men to fire indiscriminately in which more than dozens got injured,” he added. He said after the incident, BSF took one Government Employee- Wali Rehman Khan with them and later killed him under custody and even denied his body. Meanwhile President, International Forum for Justice and Human Rights, Mohammad Ahsan Untoo along with Hurriyat leader Mohammad Shabir Dar visited Ajas and offered Fateh at the graveyard where the deceased are buried. On the occasion Untoo said justice has been denied to families even after 27 years and even an FIR has not been lodged against the culprits. Later people marched from Jamia Masjid to Martyrs grave yard and hel prayer meet at the grave yard. Holding placards, the protestors chanted Anti-India and Pro-Freedom slogans. A complete shutdown was also observed in Ajas and adjoining areas to mourn the killings of civilians by BSF Men. Business establishments, were closed and vehicular traffic was seen off the roads effecting normal life in the area.(KNO)