DGP, DC Baramulla, SP Sopore asked to submit reports
Srinagar: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has issued notices to DGP, DC Baramulla and SP Sopore to submit detailed factual reports in killing of Sopore youth Arshad Ahmad Shah.
“…In the first instance issue notices to Director General of Police, J&K, Dy. 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 SHRC has said in its order.
The Commission has further asked father of the deceased youth and other injured persons to appear on the next date of hearing, file correct statement of facts regarding the incident and assist the Commission during the proceedings of the case. The case has been fixed for hearing on August 6.
“Many of today’s newspapers of Kashmir valley, under various headlines, have carried a news story regarding the firing incident which took place in Sopore on 23.06.2014,” the commission has said. The news report suggests that the operation parties, which include 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.” On June 23, a youth was killed and four others were injured on Monday when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse a protest rally following an encounter in Sopore town of Baramulla district.
According to police handout a group of youth had started pelting stones at security forces, who returning from Krankishivan Colony of Sopore after accomplishing an counter insurgency operation in which a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit was killed. Security forces had later allegedly opened fire to disperse the protesting youth, resulting in injuries to five of them, the sources said.