Police report backs security action during 2010 J&K unrest

M I Jehangir

Srinagar, Jan 16 (PTI) The police reports to thetwo-member Judicial Commission, probing the 17 deaths duringinitial stages of the 2010 summer unrest in Jammu and Kashmir,maintain that either security forces opened firing in selfdefence or did not use live ammunition at all in most cases.

The killing of three youth in south Kashmir''s Anantnagdistrict on June 28, last year is the only incident in whichthe police has admitted to the guilt of its personnel to someextent.

According to the report of Director General of PoliceKuldeep Khoda on the Anantnag incident, initially there wasan attempt to blame the firing on "some unknown" persons.

The incharge of the Laizbal police post had submitteda docket to the Anantnag police station that the post had comeunder attack from protestors armed with lathis and stones andthe mob had attacked several government properties, includingpolice vehicles and ambulances.

"In the meantime, some unknown persons fired upon theprocession from SK colony resulting in serious injuries somepersons who were shifted to hospital," the docket dated June29, quoted in the DGP�s report to the Commission, said.

Three youth later succumbed to injuries.

However, the special investigation team, constitutedto probe the incident after public outcry alleging that theyouth were killed in cold blood, found that the incidents ofarson at Laizbal and firing at S K Colony were separate.

While civilian witnesses deposed before a magistratethat police personnel had opened firing and they can identifythem, no identification parade was conducted till December 7,2010 � the day on which the DGP submitted his report to thecommission.

"Due to prevailing situation in Anantnag town, theidentification parade of the involved accused persons couldnot be conducted so far," Khoda wrote so nearly six monthsafter the incident occurred.

One constable has been arrested in connection with thecase so far. .

Another incident, in which police seems to shrug off responsibility, relates to death of 25-year�old Fancy Jan infiring at Batamaloo in the city on July 6 last year.

"During the course of investigation, it has transpiredthat bullet, which has allegedly hit the deceased (Jan), hasnot been fired by the security forces or police personneldeployed on the spot as they were not carrying any type offire arms/ammunition with them," Station House Officer ofBatamaloo Police Station writes in his report on September 19.

In the death of Abrar Ahmad in Maisuma area here, thereport does not mention as to how the youth was killed or whoopened the firing.

The SHO only mentions that there was a great law andorder problem in his area as an unruly mob armed with lathisand stones defied curfew and there was heavy deployment ofpolice and security forces in the area.

In cases related to the three deaths, the reportmentions that the security force personnel had opened firingin self defence as there was danger to either their life or tothe public property.

In the report related to killing of Fayaz AhmadKhanday at Baramulla town on July 19, the police reportclaimed that the mob, which was carrying the body of anotheryouth who had drowned while being chased by police, hadattacked the security forces with petrol bombs and thesomeone from the crowd opened firing.

"From amongst the mob, some firing shots were heard.

In the melee, several police officials sustained injuries.

Some of the miscreants also received injuries," SSP Baramullasaid his report to the commission.

The state government appointed a judicial commissionon July 27 to probe the 17 killings that took place betweenJune 11 and July 19 last year and submit its report withinthree months.

The Commission headed by SHRC Chairman Justice (retd)Syed Bashiruddin Ahmad is expected to submit its report on theincidents by January 28 after the term of the commission wasextended twice.