Human rights defenders decry gallantry awards to accused police officers
"Will they kill our children and then receive rewards for the same?"
Srinagar: Army’s gallantry awards to the two police officers accused of killing a youth in custody in July last year have triggered
outrage among the human rights defenders across the Valley.
On Republic day eve, Army conferred gallantry awards on two senior policemen- the then
Superintendent of police (SP) Sopore, Altaf Khan and his Deputy, Ashiq Hussain Tak, who are facing charges of killing 26-year-old youth Nazim Rashid
alias Anjum, son of Abdur Rashid Shalla of Alamdar Mohalla, Sopore in custody in July last year.
"These awards have been given on the basis of
particular operations conducted by these officers against terrorists. We did not take into account their entire police records." Srinagar based Army
spokesman, J S Brar was quoted by a New Delhi based news paper as having said.
The awards to the two tainted police officials by Army have come
under sharp criticism from the human rights defenders who not only termed it ‘shameful’ but also said that such a move can’t be
ignored
“Will they kill our children and then receive rewards for the same? This is shameful,” Parveena Ahanger, Chairperson of
Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) told State Observer.
“Our innocent children are killed for awards and rewards. Even the
Army men and counter insurgents who killed three Nadihal youth in a fake encounter were rewarded. This is irony. Instead of punishment, the guilty
officers are being encouraged to kill more,” she added.
She said police, Army and Ikhwanis (renegades) can go to any extent to earn money and
medals. Awarding accused officials amount to rubbing salt on the wounds of the victims, she added.
The Chairperson of parallel faction of the APDP,
Advocate Parvez Imroz said that such actions will have long term political and psychological impact on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It
gives a message to large constituency that the state doesn’t care about you. It’s a bounty for killing people whom they suspect,”
Imroz told this newspaper.
Earlier, he said, such awards were being given clandestinely to the officials, but now the trend is changing with every
passing day. He said the issue was also pinpointed by Justice Alam.
“This pattern has been going on for last 20 years. Earlier, it was done
clandestinely, now it’s being done publicly. I’m not surprised at all. Because in a state where Mumma Kanna gets Padam Shri, nothing is
surprising,” said Imroz.
Referring to the killing of a Bandipore youth in Dalgate area of the city sometime back, Imroz said that the
troopers who killed the student and dubbed him as a militant were given a cash reward on the same day.
"Though it’s not unusual or something
new but it’s also an issue which can’t be ignored,” he said.
Pertinently, on July 31, Nazim, a provision store owner was arrested
by Special Operations Group (SOG) of police in connection with the killing of a labourer-Mohammad Ashraf, son of Ghulam Ahmad who was shot dead in
Chankhan locality of the Apple town. However the youth died during the interrogation triggering massive protests.
Fearing mass protests against the
killing, two policemen - Nisar Ahmad and Mohammad Abbas - were arrested, while Altaf Khan was transferred and his deputy was attached on the
instructions of the government.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had also taken strong note of the custodial death and had promised exemplary
punishment to the guilty. He had also promised to 'take the investigations to its logical end within days'.
“I have told the MOS (Home)
that as far as I am concerned, in a matter of days, I want all the facts to be made available. I want the case to be processed and I want action to be
taken,” Omar had told media persons on the sidelines of a function at SK International Convention Complex (SKICC) here.
[State Observer]
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