Nine civilians who were killed in a firing incident in 1990 in downtown here were “murdered” by BSF troopers, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) said in its judgment today. In support of its verdict the Commission said J&K government has written to Center for prosecution of accused troopers.
“The J&K police have stated that nine persons were killed in indiscriminate firing by the BSF but their particulars have not been maintained….since the police have filed a charge-sheet it can be assumed that state is of the view that nine persons were murdered,” reads the SHRC judgment that was delivered by Commssion chairperson Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki.
The matter stands disposed of with a direction to the government to finalise the matter related to relief under various rules within a period of six weeks, reads the judgment.
On 6 August 1990, the nine civilians, according to the case in the Commission, were shot dead by troopers of 75 battalion of BSF at Mashali Mohalla in old city.
The then IG BSF EN Rammohan had said that he was “ashamed of the incident”. An FIR (57/1990 U/S 302, 436, 406 RPC 3/27 A) stands registered in the case in police station Nowhatta.
The state government had written to government of India on 15 May 2018 seeking sanction of prosecution against accused security personnel for the murders, said the judgment which was delivered on the application filed by human rights activist Ahsan Untoo. The BSF had ordered a Court of Inquiry into the killings following which JK Sharma, then additional deputy inspector general commandant of the battalion, along with his three colleagues including deputy (commandant) RP Bhukal, head constable Gajjan Singh and constable Uttam Singh were initially suspended from service. But subsequently they were given “routine postings”.
As per data, the court of inquiry had charged Sharma with “omission of effective command and control over his troops which led to uncontrolled firing which led to the death of civilians”.