Majid Kapra
Agence India Press, Correspondent
July 31, 2009
Srinagar

The incidents which happened this year are yet to be probed and the accused brought to book.
Bomai Killing
Bomai massacre was the fourth incident of killing of civilians by army and other security agencies since Omar Abdullah took over as the chief minister of the state.
On the evening of 21 February, during a festival of a revered Saint Hazrat Makhdoom Sahib at Bomai, Tujer Sharief in Sopore, the devotees were asked to disembark from vehicles for frisking at Rajinder Post near Girl High School, Bomai, by 22 Rashtriya Rifiles of Indian Army. During frishking dovotees raised slogans against the “continued harassment” by the army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles. This infuriated troopers who rushed towards the spot. Seeing troopers running towards them, people fled from the area. The troopers chased a motorcycle. However, after failing to catch the motorcycle rider, troopers fired indiscriminately, killing two persons on the spot and injuring another.The critically injuring Firdous Ahmad Khwaja son of Abdul Ghaffar who was shifted to SKIMS, Soura.
The deceased were identified as Muhammad Amin Tantray son of Muhammad Shaban of Bomai Sopore, and Javid Ahmad Dar son of Muhammad Ismail of Muslim Peer, Sopore.
As the news of the killing of three persons by spread, thousands of people including women and children in Bomai and other parts of Sopore took to roads and staged a massive protest against the Indian army. Raising pro-freedom and anti-army slogans, the protestors were demanding ‘instant’ punishment to the troopers responsible for firing on civilians.
The protestors refused to bury the bodies of the deceased persons till action is taken against the army personnel. Top police and civil officials rushed to the spot and were able to persuade people to abort the sit-in and bury the deceased, only after the assurances of impartial Magistrate inquiry by Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Baseer Ahmad Khan.
Shopian Rape and Murder
On Friday 29 May, 2009 Aasiya Jan and her sister-in-law, Neelofar Jan, left for their orchard at Degan, Batpora around 5 pm. When they did not turn up till 8 pm their family members called them on their mobile phone and were told by them that they were on way to home and will be reaching within 15 minutes. When they didn't turn up they called them again, but their mobile phones were switched off. The family member was worried and they informed their neighbors about the matter. After that, Shakeel Ahmad, husband of Neelofar and brother of Aasiya, went searching for them but was disappointed. He was told by a neighbour that the duo had left for home just when a patrolling party was passing through the area. He then approached police. At 10 pm, police party led by Station House Officer along with family members and villagers launched large scale search operation to trace out the duo. But couldn’t find them till 3 am and returned back. Later, at 5 am, 30 May 2009, Shakeel Ahmad again went on search with the police party and found Neelofar’s body in the Rambiara Nullah around 6 am at some distance from a CRPF camp and Aasiya’s body, a km away from her.
Asiya’s brother, Zahoor Ahmad, who lifted the bodies, told Agence India Press that Neelofar’s body had been kept in water near a boulder about 50 feet away and her body bore scratches on the right side. Her neck had visible strangulation marks and her clothes had been torn. The body of Aasiya was located in a stream flowing near Arahama shrine. She had a deep wound on her forehead and scratches on the right side of her face. He said she had no undergarments and he put his own shirt over her body. The family members of the victims confirmed that the bodies were having ‘nail scratches’ and ‘bruises’.
The protests started on the evening of Sunday 28 June 2009 when a woman of Sheeri Baramulla alleged that she was harassed and abused by police men in police station Baramulla. She had visited the police station to seek the release of her husband, who was detained by the police. This provoked a massive protest demanding action against the policemen involved in the incident. Next day in the morning people again came on the streets to protest the alleged misbehavior, and demanding stern action against the accused policemen. The CRPF and police, which are heavily deployed in this town of Jammu and Kashmir, swung into action and lobbed, tear smoke canisters to disperse them. However, the protesters offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones, triggering amid clashes, police and troopers resorted to indiscriminate firing, killing two people. As the situation took an ugly turn, reinforcements were rushed to the area and the district administration imposed indefinite curfew in the town. However, in subsequent days, angered by killings and use of unproportionate force against unarmed protestors, people defied curfew restrictions took to streets in several parts of Baramulla town. Chanting pro-freedom, anti-India and anti-police slogans, the protesters clashed with police, who fired tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the agitating people. In three days police killed four persons and injured hundreds
Soon after the death of two persons on the first day authorities imposed an indefinite curfew on the town to control the situation. Next day Hurriyat Conference called for three day Valley-wide strike in protest against the killing of two protestors in police firing in Baramulla, on 29 June 2009 and inordinate delay of authorities to punish the culprits of Shopian incident. However, on 30 July 2009 protests were held all over Kashmir valley. Authorities had imposed curfew-like restrictions in Sopre, Bandipora, Kupwara Handwara, Srinagar and Islamabad. Barricades and barbed wires were used to seal the roads and by lanes at various crossing points. However, people defied curfew and hundreds of protesters marched on streets raising pro-freedom, anti-CRPF and anti-India slogans. They were demanding action against the erring troopers who opened fire on the peaceful demonstrators. Policemen and troopers who were deployed in the strength in the area beat them up with batons and fired tear smoke canisters to disperse them. CRPF personnel barged into houses and started beating the inmates. However, youth retaliated with stones, triggering clashes
Baramulla Killings
Scores of protestors were injured when troopers didn’t allow the ambulance to enter Khanpora, Baramulla which resulted in death of a youth who succumbed to his injuries. Another youth who had earlier received injuries died in hospital. The policemen fired tear gas shells the funeral procession of the slain youth. The death toll in the police and CRPF personnel firing on unarmed protestors in Baramulla Township had risen to four.
The deceased were Muhammad Saleem Ahanger son of Abdur Rashid Ahanger of Syed Karim Sahib, Baramulla. Tariq Ahmad Malik son of Saifudin Malik of Drangbal, Baramulla, Fayaz Ahmed Gojri, Amir Rashid Mir (19) son of Abdul Rashid Mir.
Killing of Innocent Man
On the evening of March 18, 2009, troopers of 181 battalion CRPF summoned the village chowkidar, Nazir Ahmed Magray, to their camp and ordered him to accompany them for a search operation. Troopers went straight into Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik's house and they searched the rooms. Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik was at that time in the ground floor to fetch the fodder for the cattle. Troopers went to the ground floor and from the landing itself shot a volley of fire towards Ghulam Mahiuddin Malik, 38, without any provocation. He was rushed to Pakherpora hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said: 'A CRPF patrol had gone to the village for searches on specific information about the presence of militants. The patrol was fired upon by militants and they returned the fire. The body of one person was recovered from the spot.'
Police however said that killing was targeted as the troopers had fired at least 19 bullets into his chest
Ghulam Mahiuddin Malik, 38, has never been a militant in his life. A carpenter by profession had tremendous responsibilities on his shoulders. He was the only breadwinner of his family comprising his pregnant wife, four children, ailing 70-year old mother, and deaf 78-year old father.