STRUCTURES OF VIOLENCE

24
| Structures of Violence
Repeated victimization
A standard procedure for the armed forces appears to be
the repeated victimization of individuals. Whether for their
political views, or their association/afliation with certain
groups (especially Jamat E Islaami) or simplytheir refusal
to work for the system, the repeated victimization of
individuals was particularly striking in Islamabad. Two
testimonies, reproduced in full below, exhibit the repetitive
and targeted nature of the violence.
The rst testimony is that of Atif Hassan Sheikh
[Testimony no.35] whose experience of torture dates back
to 2006, and continues to date.
On 02 June 2006, there were protests by people of
Islamabad town. I was a college student then. I was
leading the protest procession. When the procession
reached Khanabal, twenty four boys were arrested by
Police Station Islamabad. Liyaqat was the SHO at the
time. While 23 of the arrested boys were released on the
same day I was kept in custody for 22 days without any
FIR being filed. Finally I was released on 24 June.
In 2006, Yasin Malik started the campaign of Safar-e-
Azaadi. I was arrested again on the next day of the
procession. I was arrested from my house by personnel
from Islamabad Police Station and kept in custody for 7-8
days. After that I was under the constant surveillance of
CID and also repeatedly called by police to appear before
them in the Police Station. This continued till 2008.
Whenever there would be any shut down call or any
procession by pro-freedom parties I would be arrested for
that day.
On 25 August 2008, there was the call for Lal Chowk,
Srinagar Chalo. On that day, at about 02:30 am army and
SOG raided my house. Tahir who was then working with
Territorial Army was also with them. They knocked the
door, and when I came to open the door someone either
from the SOG or army grabbed me by my hair and
dragged me out. Tahir threatened me saying that he will
not let me live this time. My father didn't allow the army
and SOG personnel to take me away. Tahir Fuf then called
SHO Bashir saying that my father is not allowing them to
arrest me. The SHO himself came to our house, and my
father handed me over to his custody. I was taken to the
Territorial Army camp, which is in a Kashmiri Pandit's
house. I was kept there for eight days, and thereafter
released.
On 30 December 2008, I went to meet my fiancé along
with my friend Ubaid. I was picked on the way by the local
police. I was taken to central jail Srinagar. I was released
after two and a half months. Meanwhile my father
approached the police station for getting the report for my
release on bail. There Duty Officer Khanday told him
“don't ask for the report otherwise your son will be booked
under PSA.” Ultimately, I was released.
I got married on 17 May 2009, Friday. Then on 21st May,
which is also the martyrdom anniversary of Abdul Gani
Lone, Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and the martyrs of Hawal, I
was again arrested by the Sadder Police Station, and
detained for eight days. On the same night of my release,
Asiya and Nelofar of Shopian were raped and killed, and I
was arrested again on the next day. This time I was kept in
custody till 11 June 2009. On 18 June 2009, four youth of
Baramulla were killed by SOG and on the next day I was
arrested again for about 50 days. I was released on 12
August 2009.
On 1 December 2009, I was arrested again and was taken
to Central Jail Srinagar. I was questioned about my friend
Ubaid who had left Kashmir. I was told by Duty Officer
Amit of Janglatmandi police post that if I produce my
friend before the police, I would be released. On 5
January 2010, I was released. After my release I went to
Jammu along with my family to escape the harassment,
and we came back in April. On the same day I received a
call from Duty Officer Janglatmandi police post to appear
in the police post. I went there with my father. Parvez was
the then Duty Officer. He told my father to permanently
leave our home. On the same night when I was sleeping
he came to the house, and informed me that I have been
booked under PSA. I was booked for protesting the
martyrdom of Zahid Farooq. But I was in fact in Jammu,
when protests against his killing broke out. I was sent to
Central Jail on 16 April 2010. After three days, I got bail
and was released.
On 21 June 2010, there was a shutdown because of the
killing of Tufail Matto. On 22 June 2010 there was a strike
call by Masarat Alam. I also led a protest, but there was no
stone pelting. On the next day I was at my shop when I
was arrested by police and sent to JIC Khanabal. There I
was tortured by SOG personnel Ram Lal. I was hung
upside down, my private parts and other parts of my body
were given electric shocks, and a rod was inserted in my
rectum. I was kept naked during the entire torture. I was
kept in JIC for four days and then I was sent to Cental Jail
Srinagar.
On 7 July, I was booked under PSA for “provoking people”
and was sent to Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu. On 5 December
2010 the PSA order was quashed by the Court but I was
not released for a while. Meanwhile my wife gave birth to a
baby girl. But the child died as my wife was in depression
because of my frequent detentions.
On 7/8 November 2011, it was Eid-ul-Azha and a protest
took place at Janglatmandi, Islamabad. During the protest
36 police personnel got injured. On the next day police
raided my office at KP Road branch of HDFC bank. I was
arrested and I lost my job as well. On 12 February I was
released.
On 18 February 2013, when Afzal Guru was martyred, I
was arrested again by SHO Islamabad Ishfaq Alam.
I am detained every time when ever there are any
protests or any killing. Now whenever I receive a call from
police, I have to appear before them.
The second testimony is that of Ishfaq Ahmad Kotwal
[Testimony no.36] whose story begins when he was a
child.
In 1994, when I was 12 years old I was detained by RR.
This was my first arrest. I was taken from my home
because I was friends with Tariq Ahmad Misgar, an HM
Commander, [he was killed on 17 January 1997 in Dantar
in an encounter. It was a fake encounter. Army and
Ikhwan were involved. Tariq was arrested by army from
Dialgam]. Tariq was 22 years old then. I used to also help
him around a bit – get him food etc. After my arrest I was
taken to Saddar police station by the police. I don't know
who was the SHO then, but, others say it was Sonaullah. I
was not beaten or tortured. I was kept in lock up for two
days at Sherbagh Police post. I was alone in the lock up. I
was given food and was not mistreated. I was released
through appeals from my family members.
The next time I was detained was in 1996, and maybe at