STRUCTURES OF VIOLENCE

516 | Structures of Violence
Case No. 19
Victim Details
Mohammad Ashraf Bhat [Abduction, Torture]
Age: 45
Occupation: Auto Driver, Militant with Hizbul
Mujahideen [1989-1997]
Son of: Sanaullah Dar
Resident of: Kutpora, Waghama, Bijbehara,
Islamabad district
Alleged Perpetrators
1. Ofcer Kalwat, 3 Rashtriya Ries [RR],
Waghama Camp
2. Shafaat, resident of Guree, Islamabad,
Government Gunman [Ikhwan]
3. Raq, resident of Kanilwan, Bijbehara,
Government Gunman [Ikhwan]
4. Gani Gour resident of Beyur, Bijbehara,
Government Gunman [Ikhwan]
5. Bashir Ahmad Katoo, resident of Katoo,
Bijbehara, Government Gunman [Ikhwan]
6. Dund Resh, Informer to army
Case Information
In 1997, the army and Ikhwan raided the house of
Mohammad Ashraf and barged into his house. It was
the month of Ramzan. They entered the house in the
morning – at the time of Sehar. Dund Resh, resident of
Waghama, an army informant and an activist of the
National Conference led the raid. He had informed the
army about the victim's connection to Hizbul
Mujahideen.
The army was 3 Rashtriya Ries [RR], belonging to the
Waghama Camp. Their ofcer in command was
Kalwat. Ofcer Kalwat had himself raided the house of
the victim, along with his personnel and some
Ikhwans, identied as Shafaat, Raq, Gani Gour, and
Bashir Ahmad Katoo. Bashir Katoo was their
commander.
When the army and Ikhwan raided the house of the
victim, he was on the rst oor; Ikhwan brought him
into the kitchen and tortured him there. The victim was
beaten with sticks by the above-mentioned Ikhwan
and electrocuted him with a battery, which was brought
along by army ofcer Kalwat. This went on for 20-30
minutes.
Then the victim was taken to the 3RR camp at
Waghama and was tortured there too. He was again
electrocuted by ofcer Kalwat and beaten by the
above said Ikhwan. He was made to drink chilly
powder water and a roller was rolled over his body.
One Sikh army personnel also cut his skin on the left
foot. His ears, ngers, and penis were electrocuted
and his legs were stretched.
During this period of detention, the Ikhwan visited the
victim's house and picked up his father Sanaullah Dar.
They also verbally abused his wife. They brought him
to the same camp as the victim's, where he was also
tortured and beaten for 3 days. He was then released.
When he was brought home, the army planted a bomb
in the kitchen and threw gunpowder in the house. The
wife of the victim requested Ofcer Kalwat, who was
present there, not to damage their house. The ofcer
didn't agree. The army kept the father of the victim
close to the kitchen so as to kill him in the explosion.
But a local villager, pulled him and took him far away
from the house. The army exploded the bomb and the
house was gutted.
After seven days in the camp, the victim was shifted to
Khanabal camp. There too he was tortured for one
night. After one day in the camp, the victim was taken
to the JIC at Khanabal for two months; no torture was
done there to the victim. Then he was booked under
Public Safety Act [PSA] and shifted to Kathua Jail,
Jammu; he was kept there for 18 months. After this, he
was shifted to Kot Bhalwal for one month and then
shifted to Hari Niwas, Srinagar and kept there for 22
days. Then the victim was shifted to Bijbehara Police
Station for one night and then released. A case under
FIR no. 17/1997 at Bijbehara Police Station was led
against the victim. Further information on this FIR was
sought through RTI dated 15 July 2015. By
communication dated 4 July 2015 information was
provided that this had been closed as chargesheeted
against the victim and the case le had been sent for
government sanction [It is unclear why the case
against the victim would need to be sent for
government sanction].
The victim, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, gave the above
statement to the IPTK on 6 May 2015.
The victim's statement is clear, and cogent evidence is
presented of the torture by the alleged perpetrators.
The allegations warrant further investigation.
Case No. 20
Victim Details
Showket Ahmad Bhat alias Janisar [Abduction,
Torture]
Age: 35
Occupation: Private school Teacher [he was afliated
to the Hizbul Mujahideen]
Son of: Ghulam Qadir Bhat
Resident of: Sarnal Payeen, Chiken Mohalla,
Islamabad, Islamabad district
Alleged Perpetrators
1. Ramesh Kumar Jalla, SP Operations,
Special Operations Group [SOG], Jammu
and Kashmir Police
2. Sheikh Tahir alias Tahir Fuf, Government
Gunman [Ikhwan]
3. Idrees Baba, Government Gunman [Ikhwan]