HUMAN SHIELD CASE: Army not identifying accused despite several reminders: Police

On 23 May 2017, Major Gogoi told media persons how he tied Farooq Dar of Budgam to the army jeep during elections for the Srinagar-Budgam Parliamentary constituency on April 9 that year. He justified his action saying it saved lives amid intense stone pelting on the army.

Despite this admission, the J&K Police are still “waiting for communication from army to identify the accused.”

   

Police are investigation the case vide FIR number 38/17 under RPC sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 367 (kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc) registered against army at police station Beerwah.

However, till date the accused Major has not been arrested despite the offences mentioned in the FIR being cognizable and non-bailable.

The police in its status report filed before the High Court on 14 May 2018 has said that correspondence has been made with army unit 53-RR regarding furnishing nominal roll of the Coy Commander/army personnel of the party and for seeking their presence before the investigating officer.

“But despite chain of communications and subsequent reminders, the Coy Commander of 53-RR camp Beerwah has not provided the nominal roll of army personnel nor made their presence before the investigating officer,” reads the status report.

It adds that “the investigation of the case is going on and after obtaining reports from district election officer Beerwah / Coy Commander 53-RR camp Beerwah and expert opinion on video clip relating to the victim from CFSL Chandigarh, the investigation of the case will be concluded on its merits.”

The victim Farooq Ahmad Dar Thursday held silent protest at Press Enclave here, demanding the arrest of Major Gogoi. Dar had sealed his mouth with a piece of cloth, to convey a message that his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

He held a placard in hand, seeking immediate arrest of Major Gogai.

Chairman International Forum for Justice & Human Rights, Ahsan Untoo, who has filed several petitions seeking justice for Dar was also present.

Father of 24-year-old Tanveer Ahmad Wani, a civilian killed in Beerwah in July 2017, was also present at the protest.

“The entire world knows Gogoi tied the innocent civilian on jeep. Gogoi has also confessed the crime before media and he is also on record admitting the crime. However, surprisingly, J&K Police is still waiting for response from the army to know the name of accused,” Untoo told the Greater Kashmir.

He added that several cases are pending against Gogoi and “he is a habitual offender.”

Untoo said that at least 8 petitions stand registered before State Human Rights Commission and State High Court against Gogoi. “He not only tied a youth on the bonnet of a jeep but also killed an innocent handicapped tailor Tanvir Ahmed Wani,” Untoo said.

Muhammad Ibrahim, the father of the slain youth, said that Major Gogoi is responsible for the death of his son Tanvir. “It was Gogoi who ordered his soldiers to shoot my son. A formal case stands registered against the Major and yet he is roaming free,” he said.

Gogoi strapped Farooq Dar to the front of his jeep and paraded him through several villages in Budgam district on April 9, 2019. The Army Chief Bipin Rawat rewarded the officer with a letter of commendation.

Dar faced all this when the people in his area boycotted the polls but he chose to vote. After casting his vote, Dar was on way to his relative’s house when Gogoi stopped him at Utligam. As per Dar, there was no stone pelting going on at Utligam when he was held.

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