Five youth including two brothers tortured by Indian Army in Lolab Kupwara
Srinagar, 2 Aug 2014: The physical torture committed by Indian Army on five locals of Lolab Valley including two 
brothers sparked protest at Harden Lolab area of Kupwara. The victims said that the Indian Army officer offered them cash to keep their mouth shut. Harden Siver Lolab Residents are mulling migration following torture of six men by Army’s 18 RR on next day of Eid-ulfitr.Locals of Harden Lolab told media men that Indian Army personnel from 18 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) deployed at Kuligam and Warnav camp have let loose a reign of terror in the Lolab Valley. They said that Army personnel harasses, detains and even tortures the people on one or the other pretext.
brothers sparked protest at Harden Lolab area of Kupwara. The victims said that the Indian Army officer offered them cash to keep their mouth shut. Harden Siver Lolab Residents are mulling migration following torture of six men by Army’s 18 RR on next day of Eid-ulfitr.Locals of Harden Lolab told media men that Indian Army personnel from 18 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) deployed at Kuligam and Warnav camp have let loose a reign of terror in the Lolab Valley. They said that Army personnel harasses, detains and even tortures the people on one or the other pretext.The victims identified as 11th standard student Javid Ahmad Sheikh son of Sheeren Sheikh ,Bashir Ahmad Malla, 27year old, son of Abdul Rehman, Mushtaq Ahmad Malla son of Abdul Rashid Mala, Muhammad Ashiq Malla, 35-year old, son of Abdul Rashid Mala, Nazir Ahmad Malla, 37 year old, son of Habibullah Malla, 37 year old, Shah Wali Moughal, 45 year old, son of Mir Wali- all labourers by profession residents of Harden Lolabsaid that an Army officer offered them money to keep mum.
Locals added that on the pretext of harbouring militants, an Indian army team called five youth from Harden including two brothers to their camp in Kuligam and interrogated them mercilessly. “The atrocious means adopted by Army to torture us left most of us unconscious. I can’t walk and I am still feeling dizzy,” one of the victims wishing anonymity said.
One of the victims shows torture wounds on his back.They said that army accused them of harbouring militants. “We have no connection with militancy and neither we known when militants(Kashmiri gurellias struggling for liberation) arrived in our area,” they said, adding that army released them all after their condition deteriorated.
The victims said that Commanding Officer 35 Rashtriya Rifles forcibly handed over Rs 1000 note each in their pockets with the direction that they will not reveal anything what happened to them in the Army camp.
Following the continued atrocities and torture, the residents mull migration to other areas.
“We are not safe here. The excesses have made our lives miserable. We are mulling migration as the harassment continues. We are not being allowed to cross the Kuligam army camp gate for treatment even,” said the victims
Preferring to stay indoors, the fear-stricken residents of this village, which wears a deserted look, recall the incident of July 30 when six civilian from the area were tortured by 18 RR soldiers.
Recalling the day, the residents said: “Army personnel from 18 RR deployed at Warnav camp stopped us from grazing our cattle in the nearby forest. They snatched our axes and beat us for more than half an hour,” said Mushtaq Ahmad Malla, who said that Indian army personnel were seeking information about presence of militants in the area.
“We pleaded before them that we didn’t see any militants but they didn’t listen and continued to beat us to pulp,” he added.
On seeing the torture marks, the villagers approached police which took the victims to the Commanding Officer of 18 Rashtriya Rifles who didn’t listen and instead asked them to go back. http://www.sahrja.com/