Shopian killings, human Shield incident: SHRC directs police to submit report

Srinagar, Apr 04: State Human Rights Commission Wednesday issued notice to SSP Shopian directing him to submit a detailed compliance report about civilian killings and the truth behind human shield incident during the gun fight in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

With regard to civilian killings in Shopian, a petition has been filed by Chairman International Forum for Justice Muhammad Ahsan Untoo seeking investigation into the killings of civilians. The petition has also sought medical assistance of around 200 injured persons in clashes.

The petitioner in his petition has maintained that four civilians Mehrajuddin Mir, Muhammad Iqbal, Zubair Bhat and Mushtaq Ahmed Thokar  were trapped in the encounters and were targeted by government forces.

“Government Forces forced a civilian Mushtaq Ahmed Thokar to go near the house where militants were hiding in Dragadh-Sugan area of Shopian district. When the shooting began he was unable to run away and fell to the bullets. Hence, in other words the civilian was made human shield which is a severe human rights violation. Thokar was caught unaware and was the first to get killed. He was intentionally targeted,” reads the petition.

The petition further reads that Security Forces who are meant to protect civilians are indulging in cold blooded murders of civilians. “The civilian killings triggered protests resulting in injuries of which 25 have suffered injuries in their eyes.”

The Commission after accepting the petition issued the notice to SSP Shopian directing him to file a detailed report about these incidents.