SHRC seeks report on civilian killings in Baramulla, Shopian

The State Human Rights Commission on Monday sought a report from deputy commissioner and SSP Baramulla into the killing of three civilians by unknown gunmen in the district on April 30.

Chairperson Centre for Peace and Protection of Human Rights, MM Shuja, has filed a petition in connection with the killings.

   

The petitioner states that Asif Ahmad Sheikh, Mohammad Asghar Khan and Haseeb Ahmad Khan were killed in old town of Baramulla by some unknown gunmen.

“Conflicting reports have appeared in press that the three civilians aged between 19 to 25 years were targeted by militants as per police, however no media report is suggestive of the fact that any militant outfit has claimed the responsibility of the said killings.

“The police version doesn’t speak of any adverse record against the targeted civilians and on the contrary the strike call was collaterally given by the separatist camp against the killings,” Shuja states in the petition.

The petitioner further states, “The civilians were the sole bread earners of the family and because of their death their families are struggling to make both ends meet.”

In another case, the Commission sought report from deputy commissioner and SSP Shopian on the killing of a youth, Umar Kumar, by government forces.

The boy was killed by the government forces about one kilometer away from the site of a gunfight in Turkawangam village of Shopian district on Wednesday.

A petition in this connection was filed by MM Shuja.

In the petition Shuja states that during a cordon at Turkiwangan there was an exchange of fire between forces and militants and in retaliation two dozen people were injured by bullets and pellets.

“Though militants managed to escape from the firing spot, but youth namely Umar Kumar of Pinjoora was shot dead by forces. The locals tried to save his life by shifting him to hospital, but the doctors declared him brought dead,” the petitioner states.

Adding further the petitioner states, “As per the report, he was fired on chest thus making it clear that the forces didn’t follow the standard procedure. It has been observed that the forces are taking undue advantage of AFSPA and are targeting civilians during search operations and exchange of fire between militants and security forces.”

The petitioner has prayed before the Commission that the matter be investigated by the investigation wing of the Commission and legal action be taken against the forces that didn’t follow the SOP during operations.

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