Srinagar, November 21, 2015 : In Srinagar, the police authorities have refused to provide a copy of the FIR to the family of the 22-year-old engineering student, Gowhar Nazir Dar, from Zainakote in Srinagar, who was killed by the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF on November 7,2015 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was holding his public rally in Srinagar.
The victim Gowhar’s father, Nazir Ahmad Dar in a media interview in Srinagar said that they had repeatedly asked officials at Parimpora police station to give them a copy of the FIR, but to no avail.“We asked the police to give us the FIR copy the very next day after my son was martyred. But till now we are yet to receive it,” he said.
According to the family, they want murder charges to be slapped against personnel of 44 BN of CRPF, led by their commandant, who killed Gowhar. For this, they have submitted a separate application to the police. However, the application was rejected by Parimpora police station and instead they were asked to approach the Chief Judicial Magistrate, who also turned down the plea.
According to an eyewitness, who deposed before the additional district magistrate, Gowhar was killed when CRPF men were hiding behind a wall and targeted Gowhar when he was walking by on the road. The spot where he was killed — marked with red paint by the investigations team – is a few hundred metres from the CRPF camp in the area.
At the entrance to Gowhar’s house, a banner demands the removal of the CRPF camp. “It’s our land, and we gave it for an industrial purpose, not for housing the CRPF. We want the land should be given to young entrepreneurs for setting up their business units,” said Rahmatullah, Gowhar’s cousin. The CRPF occupied the site in 2010. And the HMT factory in Zainakote Srinagar, set up on this piece of land – of over 500 kanals — is almost defunct now.
The witnesses in the Gowhar Ahmed Dar killing case have said that the victim was killed in cold-blood by Indian troops.
Gowhar Ahmed Dar, a student of engineering, was killed in HMT Zainakote area of Srinagar when the paramilitary of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) opened indiscriminate fire on peaceful demonstrators who were protesting against Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir on November 7.More than 10 witnesses, who gave their statements before the Inquiry Officer probing the killing, said that Gowhar was targeted and killed in cold-blood by the Indian forces.
“I have recorded the statements of witnesses and also the statement of the father of slain youth,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, Nazir Ahmed Baba, who is probing Gowhar’s killing, said in a media interview.
The CRPF hasn’t yet submitted its report on weapons its men used on that day despite its authorities claiming that they would fully cooperate with the investigating officer.
Nazir Ahmad Dar, father of the victim, in a media interview in Srinagar demanded removal of army camp from HMT Zainakote area. He said that he would not pursue case against the Indian forces if the camp was removed.
“This way, at least, Gowhar’s martyrdom will bear some fruit and no more innocents will become target of these murderers,” Nazir Ahmad Dar said.
Member of Indian Parliament and senior People’s Democratic Party leader ,Tariq Hameed Karra, demanding immediate removal of CRPF camp from Srinagar, has admitted that martyred engineering student, Gowhar Ahmad Dar’s murder was the target killing. Tariq Hameed Karra who visited the bereaved family, at Zainakot in Srinagar, quoting locals said that a CRPF officer in plainclothes had laid a trap for Gowhar Ahmad Dar and it surely was a target killing.
Karra who visited the bereaved family said that he visited the spot and the locals told him how a CRPF officer without donning uniform parked his armoured vehicle a bit away from the incident spot and targeted Gowhar Ahmad.
“It is really sorry to say that there is no accountability in Kashmir,” he admitted.
Kara said it is high time for the local administration to remove the CRPF camp from HMT that has become a nuisance for the common people.
Meanwhile, in another case of human rights violations of 2010 a court in Srinagar has issued fresh non-bailable arrest warrants against two policemen found guilty in the killing of a student, Wamiq Farooq. Wamiq Farooq – a 7th class student – was killed after being hit in the head by a teargas shell fired by Indian police during the 2010 mass uprising.
The court of Forest Magistrate B A Munshi, issuing fresh arrest warrants against an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and Special Police Officer (SPO), directed the Senior Superintendent Police, Srinagar, to execute the warrants and produce the culprits before the court on December 1.On August 22, 2013, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the two policemen after they were found guilty on the basis of a judicial inquiry and a police probe .
Meanwhile, an Assistant Sub-Inspector and a constable – arrested for killing a teenager in Narbal area of Budgam district in April this year – have been released on bail after a “favourable report” by the Special Investigation Team. The teenager, Suhail Ahmad Sofi, a resident of Narbal, was killed when the cops fired indiscriminatlly at a group of youth near Narbal taxi stand.Following massive public outcry, police registered a case in Magam police station. Later, police had arrested the ASI and constable for killing Suhail.