STRUCTURES OF VIOLENCE
4cONo1kTN
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302 | Structures of Violence<br />
incident is equally culpable because of tacit approval<br />
given by him to the indiscriminate and un-provoked<br />
ring.” The report then recommends the immediate<br />
dismissal of alleged perpetrators 2 to 12 listed above<br />
and the initiation of criminal proceedings against<br />
them and refers to the alleged perpetrators as<br />
“malignant and sick minded individuals”. The report<br />
therefore clearly indicts the BSF and alleged<br />
29<br />
perpetrators 2 to 12 in the Bijbehara incident . The<br />
enquiry report while also indicting Deputy<br />
Commandant J.K. Rodala does not refer to him ring<br />
into the air, the signal that appears to have begun<br />
the ring. Nonetheless, the enquiry report serves as<br />
a clear indictment against him as well due to his tacit<br />
approval and considers him equally culpable as the<br />
others.<br />
While the BSF, before the High Court, did not accept<br />
the ndings of the Magisterial enquiry report, the High<br />
Court in its 10 September 2007 order did afrm the<br />
ndings. The following are the relevant conclusions of<br />
the High Court:<br />
- The plea taken by the DIG BSF, of there being<br />
a provocation for the ring, is contradicted by the<br />
afdavits of the BSF personnel.<br />
- Though the DIG BSF states that SI Malhar<br />
Singh received a bullet injury no medical<br />
certicate indicating the same was placed on<br />
record.<br />
- There is sufcient material on the record to<br />
support the version of events put forward by the<br />
petitioners. Particularly, the enquiry report of 13<br />
November 1993.<br />
Based upon the above, the High Court concluded that<br />
“these facts sufciently show that the BSF personnel<br />
on duty opened re on the mob without any<br />
provocation or cause. The procession was entirely<br />
peaceful and unarmed and there is no evidence of the<br />
presence of any armed militants in the mob. Thus<br />
there was no justication to kill these persons who<br />
were closely related to the present petitioners.” Based<br />
on its conclusions the High Court ordered<br />
compensations of Rs. 4,00,000 to each of the<br />
petitioners in addition to the ex-gratia government<br />
relief already granted to them.<br />
The High Court and the enquiry report clearly indict the<br />
BSF. As the afdavits of the BSF personnel are not<br />
presently with the IPTK it is unclear how they<br />
contradict with the position of the DIG BSF, but the<br />
indictment of the High Court remains unequivocal.<br />
While submissions before the High Court suggest that<br />
the case against the BSF personnel has been sent for<br />
sanction, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, in<br />
response to information sought through the Jammu<br />
and Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009 [RTI] on<br />
sanctions for prosecution under the Armed Forces<br />
(Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990<br />
[AFSPA], on 6 September 2011 does not refer to this<br />
case. The IPTK sought information on 10 January<br />
2012 on all inquiries and Court-Martials conducted by<br />
the BSF between 1990 and 2011 in Jammu and<br />
Kashmir but no information was provided.<br />
Further, the IPTK sought information on 10 January<br />
2012 on all cases of sanctions for prosecution under<br />
AFSPA relating to the Ministry of Home Affairs<br />
between 1990 and 2011 in Jammu and Kashmir but no<br />
information was provided. Therefore, the present<br />
status of sanction is not known.<br />
Therefore, it would appear that investigations in the<br />
case had in fact not been carried out or completed. It<br />
needs to be ascertained on whose directions the<br />
police have not carried out or completed the<br />
investigations in a case where the Magisterial enquiry<br />
and the High Court have indicted the alleged<br />
perpetrators. The Magisterial enquiry now appears to<br />
have been rendered redundant by the inaction of the<br />
Government.<br />
Case No. 32<br />
Victim Details<br />
Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat [Abduction and Extra-Judicial<br />
Killing (Custodial Killing)]<br />
Son of: Aziz Mohammad Bhat<br />
Resident of: Honjala Tehsil, Kishtwar, Doda District<br />
Alleged Perpetrators<br />
1. Captain T.K. Chopra, 15 PBOR [Accounts<br />
ofce], 10 Jammu and Kashmir Ries, Army<br />
2. Captain Pushpinder, 15 PBOR [Accounts<br />
ofce], 10 Jammu and Kashmir Ries, Army<br />
Case Information<br />
The victim was killed in custody on 3 November 1993.<br />
First Information Report [FIR] no.181/1993 u/s 364<br />
[Kidnapping/Abducting to murder], 302 [Murder], 34<br />
[Common intention] Ranbir Penal Code, 1989 [RPC]<br />
30<br />
was led at the Kishtwar Police Station . The FIR<br />
led by Abdul Rashid Bhat stated that an unidentied<br />
dead body was found with bullet injuries in the face<br />
and head, and torture marks, near Chermali,<br />
Pooncha, Kishtwar. The 24 November 2011<br />
communication from the Jammu and Kashmir Police<br />
states that the investigation was with the Crime<br />
Branch. By communication dated 29 April 2014 from<br />
the Jammu and Kashmir Police information was<br />
29 The report does not fully name “K.Singh, L.N.K., no. 84744051” but does refer to his designation, his rst initial “K” and his number.<br />
30 Information on this FIR was sought through the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009 [RTI] on 7 October 2011.By<br />
communication dated 24 November 2011 from the Jammu and Kashmir Police a copy of the FIR was provided. Further information<br />
sought through RTI on 15 October 2013. By communication dated 24 November 2013 from the Jammu and Kashmir Police a copy of the<br />
FIR was provided. Further information sought through RTI dated 14 November 2014.