*SRINAGAR: *
On Nov. 26, Muhammad Saleem, 27, a school teacher was checking examinationpapers of his students when he heard gunfire. It had been years since thelast firing incident had occurred in Aban Shah, a semi-urban locality inthe outskirts of Srinagar – the capital of Indian Occupied Kashmir.
An hour later, people, who started coming out of their homes learned thattwo Indian soldiers were shot dead by militants, who later released a videoclaiming the attack.
A day later around midnight, 35 masked soldiers form a nearby security campdetained 35 men, including Saleem
About midnight the next day, a large group of masked soldiers from a nearbycamp arrested 35 men, including Saleem from their homes. They were orderedto the camp and beaten ruthlessly with polycarbonate sticks. The soldierswere repeatedly asking them to reveal the identity of militants.
A local hospital confirmed the physical assault on Salim, who has beenprescribed complete bed rest. Fearing another bout of beating by soldiers,he had shifted to a relative’s home.
Sitting beside him was his 20-year-old brother, Adil, who has his rightwrist plastered. A student of agriculture sciences, Adil is worried whetherhe can sit in his second-semester examination beginning Dec. 15. Doctorshave recommended plaster for two weeks ending this Sunday.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, a shopkeeper, Altaf Ahmad, said he was tryingto save his seven-year-old nephew when he heard fire shots. Showing batonmarks on his body, he asked when one is battling for his own life, how canyou know who is fining the shots?
A 19-year-old boy who works at a bakery is still nursing injuries at home.His impoverished father, Abdul Samad, is ruing not only as the job day waslost, but also expenses he had to incur on the treatment. On the request ofvictims, their names have been changed in the report.
*Army rejects allegations*
The army in a statement described allegations of beating as “fabricated”.Despite contacting Col. Rajesh Kalia, spokesman of the Indian army inSrinagar did not respond to Anadolu Agency’s queries.
“You think out of blue my brother grew a plaster and I decided to wear ablack belt? I haven’t even checked those,” he said, pointing to a stack ofnotebooks and answer sheets, which he was checking when the incident offiring took place.
The residents of Aban Shah have resigned to their fate. None has filed anycomplaint with the police, as they believe none would be punished.
“Don’t we know what happened to the thousands of inquiries the governmentordered into countless incidents of human rights violations for the pastthree decades,” said Samad. – Anadolu Agency