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STRUCTURES OF VIOLENCE

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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.

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