South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

 Sringar, March 15, 2014: A teenage  18-year-old Farhat Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Rasool Dar, of Shah Gund, Hajin was shot in the chest by the forces near the Higher Secondary School, Naidkhai when the area was witnessing protests over the  highhandedness of the Indian paramilitary forces. A Class 12 student, Farhat succumbed to his injuries on way to the Public Health Centre (PHC) Pattan. His death intensified protests in the area leaving at least seven more people injured. In the damage control mode, the Bandipore district authorities claimed a probe and pledged strict action against the guilty.
A teenage boy identified as Farhat Dar, 18years of Shah Gund in Sumbal was killed while several others received injuries during protests against government forces of  Indian Reserve Police (IRP) in Naidkhai area  in Bandepur district on Friday.  HE received a bullet in his heart, doctors at Pattan hospital said
 Scores of youth took to streets after Friday congregation and tried to take out a peaceful march but were stopped by Indian forces deployed in the areaof the district. forces resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the protesters, reports added. Witnesses said the protests had erupted over the arrest of youth 
On a rainy Saturday morning women mourners showered sweets on Farhat Ahmad Dar’s body while it was taken for the last ritual bath.
Amid tears and sobs traditional wedding songs were sung by the womenfolk as Farhat’s body was taken to the graveyard in Shahgund locality of Naidkhai.
18-year-old Farhat, son of Ghulam Rasool Dar was killed when Indian CRPF policemen fired on a group of youth at main market Naidkhai, Sumbal.
According to his family, Farhat combed his hair, put on new clothes with white headgear with pleasant fragrance of ittar as he left home towards Markazi Jamia Masjid Naidkhai to offer Friday congregational prayers.
He was given some money and was asked to buy a chicken and meat to be served to a guest who had visited Dar family on Friday.
His 55-year-old mother, Bakhti Begum was waiting for him so that she could prepare special dish for the guest. But Farhat was not to return.
The family was shocked after they came to know that Farhat fell to bullets.
According to his family, Farhat left studies last year and started to work as a labourer with a local tractor owner to help his 60- year-old father, Ghulam Rasool Dar to meet domestic expenses.
Dar is a farmer and has no major source of income to sustain his family. Farhat’s sole unmarried sister helps her mother in domestic chores.
Farhat’s uncle, Ghulam Hassan Dar said besides being a sincere and obedient son, Farhat was kind to all.
“He was innocent and was not involved in any crime. We want the culprits involved in our son’s killing must be brought to book. Mere probe will not satisfy us; the culprits involved in his killing should be dealt with exemplary punishment,” said Dar.
He said for government human life has a value of chicken and his family will not fall for monetary compensation.
“We will not accept blood money at all. If we accept any compensation from government, we will be answerable before Almighty on the day of judgment,” Dar said in a broken voice.
Farhat Ahmad Dar was killed when Indian police opened indiscriminate fire on peaceful protesters in Naidkhai on Friday.
“The police and IRP personnel used batons and fired teargas canisters to disperse the protester. However, the youth regrouped and continued with their protests. The intermittent clashes continued till ‘asar’ prayers,” Mohammad Ashraf, an eyewitness, told Kashmir Reader.
Shot in the chest
After failing to disperse the youth with batons and teargas canisters, a speedy police van tried to chase away the youth. “However, the vehicle developed some snag on reaching Higher Secondary School. The cops fired scores of shots to disperse the youth.  The situation took an ugly turn when policemen opened random fire upon the youth injuring four of them,” Ashraf added.
The injured youth identified as 18-year-old Farhat Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Rasool Dar, of Shah Gund, Hajin, and Zubair Ahmad, Mohammad Sultan and Bilal Ahmed Rather were removed by the locals to hospital. However, Farhat succumbed to his injuries on way to the Public Health Centre (PHC) Pattan. The slain boy is said to be a Class 12th student.
“The boy was already dead when brought to the health centre by people. He had suffered bullet injury in chest,” Dr Zafar Ahmed of the PHC, Pattan told Srinagar daily based Kashmir Reader.
The news of Farhat’s death spread like wildfire in Naidkhai and Hajin drawing hundreds of men, women and children out on the roads. Chanting slogans, the protesters staged massive protests against what they termed cold blooded murder of the youth. The massive protests prompted the administration to push reinforcements into the area. At least four people suffered minor injuries in the clashes triggered by Farhat’s death.
Protests also erupted in Pattan and Palhallan areas when the news spread on Friday evening. Groups of youth assembled at Palhallan Chowk and engaged the forces in pitched battles. The clashes were going on when the last reports came in.
Thousands of mourners have defied a curfew in Kashmir, holding a massive funeral procession for a teenage boy recently killed by Indian troops.
On Saturday, Kashmiri mourners took to the streets and buried Farhat Ahmad Dar, 18, a day after he was shot dead by Indian forces in the village of Naidkhai, located nearly 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of Srinagar.
During the funeral, the mourners chanted anti-India slogans such as “Down with India!” and “We want freedom.”
Residents also staged a strike on Saturday to show their outrage at Ahmad Dar’s death. The strike closed most shops and businesses in the region.
Police officer Abdul Ghani Mir said Dar was killed and two others wounded when government forces fired at anti-India protesters 
The 17-year old Farhat Dar–  killed in police firing on Friday at Bandipora had a dream to send his father to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj. According to his father Ghulam Rasool Dar: “He had promised that one day he will send me for Haj.”
His father says that it was as if Farhat knew that he will die on Friday. During the morning hours, he went to hair salon, had a bath- wore new clothes and spent more than usual time in a mosque after congregational Friday prayers.
Ghulam Rasool Dar, a 50 year old man who is a local vendor and often rides a cart to earn livelihood  at Naidkhai- Bandipora, wept bitterly when KNS correspondents visited his house-comprising of two rooms and a small kitchen. The rooms were not furnished- except for a few plastic covering the floor. Farhat has left behind a wailing mother, an elder sister, an aged grandmother and father who says his son was his only reason to live.  
“Farhat always used to tell me that his dream is to send me for Haj and want to see her elder sister getting married,” Farhat’s father says in a sobbing tone. Farhat’s grandmother is not able to come out of the shock. She remains unconscious for a long time since her grandson was brought home dead.  Neighbors say that whenever she regains consciousness, she asking for Farhat.  “He is in Jannat (Paradise), he is a martyr, he is alive,” people said while trying to calm her.
“Farhat’s mother was silently sitting in a corner. She was wiping her tears with her headscarf-rest she wore no expressions on face. She doesn’t even answer to anyone’s call.   Farhat’s sister was sitting besides her mother. As relatives were busy consoling her, she kept on crying. Where would I find you now my brother? Tell me that place where you are?”  reporters described the scene.
Basit Ahmad, Farhat’s close friend said while recounting latter’s killing that after Friday prayers he along with Farhat was going for the tuition classes.  “Farhat’s family is very poor. He earlier had to leave his studies in midway to help his father but he had a great zeal for studies. He resumed his schooling and had to appear in class 10th examinations this year.” Basit says that most of the time, Farhat used to work as a laborer in the area to help his father. “He always used to remain excited about her sister’s wedding. He kept on saying that one day he will have a good job so that he could give comfortable living to his parents.”