The state human rights commission (SHRC) Friday directed SSP Srinagar to respond to a petition filed by an advocate alleging that he was beaten by army men.
The aggrieved advocate, Shafqat Nazir, hailing from Sopore area of Baramulla district, who practices in the High Court here, filed the petition alleging that the army personnel beat him up along the highway in Srinagar.
“Since the army doesn’t fall within its jurisdiction, the commission issued notice to the police,” an official of SHRC said.
In his petition, Nazir states that at around 9:15 am on February 18, while coming from Rawalpora to the High Court, he was signalled to stop by the army personnel at Hyderpora along the highway near Gung Bugh link road, which he adhered to.
As per the petition, accordingly, he parked his vehicle along the side with other parked civilian vehicles. “During the course of stoppage, two army personnel violently opened the driver side door of vehicle and without any provocation, argumentation or any other conversation or reason pounced upon while punching, slapping and smacking with lathies which resulted in injuries to him (sic),” reads the petition.
The aggrieved lawyer states in the petition that the incident that happened with him “is not in isolation but such incidents are taking place every day more particularly in the backdrop of unfortunate Pulwama episode”.
He says there was no “provocative circumstances” for the army on the spot to “humiliate and thrash” him.
“It is a common belief that regular army is a disciplined force and even in extremely difficult circumstances they are expected not to flout the norms and prescribed Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs). However, in (my case) there was no provocative or compelling circumstances for the army on spot to humiliate, thrash or beat (me),” reads the petition.
Terming the incident as “gross abuse” of human rights, he states that the army have flouted their own norms and SOPs.
The petitioner advocate while demanding compensation urges the commission to conduct an investigation into the incident through its own investigating wing.