South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

Srinagar, November 16, 2015: Woman among seven civilians were tortured by Indian army and personnel of the infamous Special Operations Group at Chuntimullha  in Bandipora district. Some of the women, who were protesting against the brutalities said they were manhandled by the Indian troops outside Chuntimulla 14 RR camp. “The Indian army men came out in dozens from the camp and started beating us to pulp. They pounced on us,” the women protesters said.
To protest beating of protesters and manhandling of women by the  Indian Army, people in hundreds later held strong protest demonstrations in front of Deputy Commissioner’s Office. 
An official said that Army’s 14 RR launched a search operation in Zabn Gujjar Basti in Chuntimulla area of the district in wee hours today.
Indian army's of 14 Rashtriya Rifles headed by Major Sarwat of 14 RR and personnel of the infamous Special Operations Group barged into the house and ruthlessly beat up and injured a 38-year woman  Sakeena wife of Lateef Khan , Javid Ahmad Khan, 27,  Ghulam Hussain Khan , 35,Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Shakoor Ahmad Khan and Junaid Ahmad Khan. The troops took them to their camp and inhumanly tortured and molested Sakeena, a mother of seven daughters, who has been injured in the head severely and is being treated at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.While firstly the mother-son duo was being treated for injuries at District Hospital Bandipora, two more injured are being shifted to the hospital, police said.
The injured were identified as Sakina Bano (39),  Ghulam Hassan Khan (35), Javid Ahmad Khan (27) ,  Reshmi Jan (38) and Muhammad Hussain Khan (32).
The villagers including injured mother-son duo staged a sit in protest outside the Deputy Commissioner's Office in the Bandipore town before being shifted to the hospital.
People of Chuntimullah and Kudara hamlets gathered and staged protest against the14-Rashtriya Rifles in Chuntimulla. The villagers said that Indian army men early today barged into houses and picked up seven persons including  a  woman. They were later released after brutal torture.
Three tortured persons have been identified as Junaid Ahmed Khan, Ghulam Hussain Khan and Sakeen w/o Lateef Khan.
Sakeena’s husband Lateef Khan told media men in Srinagar, “I didn’t expect the Indian army will beat my wife. We live near to the camp and they know us.”
“The army first rounded us up and then asked us to reveal the whereabouts of militants. They then picked up four boys and took them to Chuntimullah camp,” he said.
“Army men entered our house before the morning prayers and started thrashed us mercilessly without saying anything,” the family members of Noorani Khan told media men. “They were accompanied by cops of Special Operations Group.”
The  troops also ruthlessly injured Sakina Bano (40),  Ghulam Hassan Khan (35), Javid Ahmad Khan (30) ,  Reshmi Jan (38) and Muhammad Hussain Khan (32).
The family members said the troops asked them to assemble in one room and closed its door. “They caught hold of Manzoor, Sakoor and Junaid and covered their face with cloth and started beating them mercilessly,” they said. “We heard their screams for at least 15 minutes. The trio was whisked away by the  Indian Army men.  They (the soldiers) were beating them and we were asked to shut the door.”
“We pleaded before them to leave the youth, but they rebuked and abused us,” the family members said.
Shakeel, a neighbour of Noorani Khan, said he is terrified by the incident. “I thought somebody died. I peeped through the window of my house and saw Army men kicking the youth. They were screaming,” he said. 
The injured trio was brought to Bandipora town in a procession by hundreds of protesters who were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Many people were injured by Indian forces actions.
The Indian army and SOG personnel have been regularly conducting searches in Chuntimullah, Surinder and Khudhara villages since last week.
“ Indian army have been torturing civilians. They are coercing our youth into confessing to having links with militants,” said Khan.
The condition of Sakeena according to locals is critical and has been rushed to hospital. "They have brutally tortured civilians including a woman, we demand action against the army men involved," locals demanded. A local said that the mother-son duo badly injured due to torture was carried on the shoulders to Bandipora District hospital as the village doesn’t have a motorable road connectivity. The woman was disgraced, the villegers said. 
Local residents told media men that Indian Army’s 14 Rashtriya Rifles headed by Major Sarwat of 14Rashtriya Rifles entered into the residential house of Noorani Khan of ZabaGujjar Basti Chuntimulla at 3.30 am on Monday in a terrifying manner.
The troops arrested three youth identified as Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Shakoor Ahmad Khan and Junaid Ahmad Khan—all cousins—after beating them to pulp and took them to Chuntimulla 14 Rashtriya Rifles  camp while covering their faces with cloth, they said.
“Three persons including the women had received head injuries. We have referred them to Soura Medical Institute of Soura in Srinagar,” Dr Shaker Ahmad, who attended the injured at District Hospital Bandipora told media men. “They have been hit by a sharp-edged weapon.”Dr Shaker said the condition of Sakina is a bit critical.
Villagers later staged protest in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office demanding action against army men involved in the act. “They (Indian army men) caught hold of me and beat me with gun-butts,” Sakina told media men. “Blood started oozing through my ear and nose.”
Some of the women, who were part of the protests, said they were manhandled by the Indian troops outside Chuntimulla 14 RR camp. “The Indian army men came out in dozens from the camp and started beating us to pulp. They pounced on us,” the women protesters said.
To protest beating of protesters and manhandling of women by the  Indian Army, people in hundreds later held strong protest demonstrations in front of Deputy Commissioner’s Office. 
As the news spread in Bandipora, people took to streets and held strong protests demonstrations against  Indian Army and Police personnel.
“They (army men) caught hold of me and beat me with gun-butts,” Sakina told media men. “Blood started oozing through my ear and nose.”
Some of the women, who were part of the protests, said they were manhandled by the Army men outside Chuntimulla 14 RR camp. “The Indian army men came out in dozens from the camp and started beating us to pulp. They pounced on us,” the women protesters said.
To protest beating of protesters and manhandling of women by the Indian Army, people in hundreds later held strong protest demonstrations in front of Deputy Commissioner’s Office. They were chanting pro-freedom, anti- india, anti-army and anti-government slogans.
To pacify the protesters, the Deputy Commissioner asked Indian Army to hand over the trio to police. They were handed over police but are still in custody, an official said. A police official said one among the trio has been badly tortured.
Confirming the incident SSP Bandipora Shabir Choudary told media men that police team headed by DySp Headquarter has been dispatched to the spot for investigation.
‘ Indian Army has beaten up Bandipora villagers,’ says DC; Orders Inquiry, asks Police to Register FIR
 An official said that Army’s 14 RR launched a search operation in Zabn Gujjar Basti in Chuntimulla area of the district in wee hours today. “During the operation, they allegedly tortured three persons, including a woman,” he said on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to press on the issue.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Sajjad Hussain Ganaie, confirmed to media men that the Indian army has beaten up the villagers and he has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
“It is a fact that army has beaten up some youth in Chuntmulla village. Their families and other villagers protested against the army. The villagers pelted stones toward the army. I have ordered an inquiry into the incident which will be headed by ACR Bandipora, Masarrat Hashim, and also directed the police to register an FIR.” the DC said.
The deputy commissioner said that five persons were injured, out of the them three severely injured were rushed to Soura Insatitue of Medical Sciences, Soura in Srinagar.
Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora, Shabir Ahmad Choudhary said that the police are verifying the facts about the beating of the villagers by forces.
Protesting the detention of seven youths of Chuntimullah village during a search operation on Monday morning, dozens of villagers had marched to the Indian army camp to demand their release.
Over 200 locals, agitating against the Indian Army action, marched to Bandipora town and protested outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
Locals said while people took the injured to District Hospital in a procession, police lobbed hundreds of teargas shells to disperse them. The teargas shells were lobbed in Sulmar, Arin, Kunan and Mader areas.
At 8.30 am, the villagers including women and children of ZabnGujjarBasti, Sumlar, Arin, Kunan and some other adjoining areas of Bandipore marched towards the 14 RR camp in a procession to seek the release of the youth.
The protesters said as soon they reached near the camp, the Indian troops without any provocation beat us up. The Army action resulted in injuries to over half dozen people. One of the injured is stated to be critical.
Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK)  Condemning the brutal torture of seven civilians including a female by Indian army in Chuntimulla Bandipora, Monday termed it as a crime of utter savagery.
Expressing outrage over torturing of civilians by Indian army, President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that such heinous act of physical abuse on civilians is a grave human rights violation.
Barging into houses and dragging civilians out and torturing them ruthlessly inside army camp is the worst crime against humanity.
People in the area are harassed and humiliated by Indian army on daily basis and many have fled from the area.
Civilians are taken for forced labor by the Indian army and those who protest against these atrocities are ruthlessly crushed.
The residents of the area have to attend Indian army camps every day and those who do not become victims of torture.
Dissent is forbidden and anyone who speaks out against these atrocities is quelled.
Indian Army has unleashed a reign of terror and subjugation in the area and people are in a state of constant fear.
People in far flung areas are subjected to organized and systematic human rights abuses.Kashmir is a tormented place where it is not the law but fear that rules.