Feb 9 2015: Haleema Begum is the ill-fated mother of 19-year- old Farooq Ahmad Bhat who was killed in indicriminae firing of Indian paramilitary forces during a processionin Palhalan village in Pattan on February 9. Haleema, the mother of the victims is a housewife and mother of four daughters. Her dear son was killed by forces after she keeps gazing at the main door of her house ."I am waiting for my son to return home and ask for tea. I've four daughters, and the only one son, who left us. Death is certain for anyone. It can come to anyone at any time while the death of her son was a murder, a military terrorism, my son got murdered by armed forces whose presence in Kashmir is illegal . The Indian Government has gifted us this oppression, and we now die everyday. Is anybody listening? Does anybody care about this mother who lost the apple of her eye?" Haleema said, all in tears. A youth identified as Farooq Ahmad Bhat, received bullet injuries during ademonstration. He was shifted to a hospital in Srinagarwhere he succumbed to his injuries. The youth were holding a demonstration in the area to demand mortal remains of Afzal Guru.
A 19-year- old youth was killed and three others injured when forces opened fire on protesters in Palhallan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla said FIR has been registered and appropriate action would be taken against culprits , which is first such incident after imposition of Governor’s rule on January 8.
Local said force personnel fired on a group of people this afternoon at Palhalan, who were protesting against the nocturnal raids and demanding return of mortal remains of Mohammad Afzal Guru on his second death anniversary.
“People were protesting against the atrocities of police and were demanding mortal remains of Afzal Guru when Indian Central Reserve Police Force and Police men started indiscriminate firing towards the protesters,” they said.
Locals said in the firing, a 19-year-old youth identified as Farooq Ahmed Bhat of Bhagat Mohallah, Palhallan was killed and two others Riyaz Ahmad Bhat and Zahid Ahmad Bhat sustained injuries, one of them critically.
Farooq’s father is labourer by profession.
Pervaiz Ahmad, cousin of Farooq, told media men that his cousin had sustained critical bullet injury in chest.
“We immediately rushed him to Sub District hospital Pattan, where from he was referred to Soura Institutue of Medical Science in Sringar where doctors declared him brought dead,” he said.Pervaiz said Farooq was not the part of the protest and said that civilians were deliberately targeted by the force personnel. Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Talat Parvez while confirming the incident told media that four persons sustained injuries in the firing incident.
“One injured Farooq Ahmad son of Ghulam Ahmad of Bhagat Mohallah, Palhalan succumbed to injuries on way to hospital.
“Two injured were discharged from the hospital while another is undergoing treatment,” he said.
Parvez said FIR has been registered and appropriate action would be taken against the culprits.
When the body of the deceased youth was brought to his native place late in the evening, hundreds of people came out on streets to protest the killing. The protests in the area were going on till late evening.
A police spokesman said “One injured Farooq Ahmad Bhat son Ghulam Ahmad Bhat of Bhagat Mohallah, Palahan succumbed to injuries on way to hospital. Another injured person Riyaz Ahamad Bhat of Palhalan is undergoing treatment in hospital,” he said.
“FIR has been registered into the matter,” he said adding the incident is being investigated and all concerned are being questioned to ascertain the facts.
According to locals, a police party had raided the house of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat in New Colony, Palhalan Sunday night. They said the police tried to arrest Ashiq Ahmad, his son, for his alleged participation in stone-throwing protests.
“Police personnel asked the family members to come out of the house and thrashed my father mercilessly,” said Muzzafar Ahmad, the brother of youth wanted by police.
He said his brother Muhammad Yaqoob was also thrashed by police resulting in injuries to his arm. “Somehow we got inside our house and bolted it,” he said, adding, the men in uniform got infuriated and started ransacking whatever came in their way.
Police registered FIR against our victim son: Family
Srinagar, Feb 11: The family of 22-year-old Farooq Ahmad Bhat, who was killed in Indian paramilitary and police firing in Palhalan area of Pattan in Baramulla district two days back, Wednesday said the cops have registered a case against their victim son and another injured youth.
Farooq Ahmad Bhat, 22, was killed and two other youth critically injured after police opened fire on protesters in Palhalan on Monday, triggering Kashmir-wide shutdown and condemnation.
Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, father of the slain youth, said police has registered FIR vide number 29/2014 under section 307, 147, 332 and 427 against Farooq and another injured youth who is battling for life in a hospital.
“The police chief (DGP) had said a case will be registered against the cops who killed my son. But I was shocked to see that instead of lodging an FIR against the cops, police has registered a case against my son and another injured youth,” he said.
Tariq Ahmad, brother of slain youth, said during the 2010 killings, the then IGP Kashmir had assured a probe into the killing of a Palhalan youth but that probe report never came to fore.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir, Gareeb Das, told media men that FIR has been registered “against security forces involved in the firing incident.”
“I have told SSP Baramulla to investigate the matter thoroughly. Those found guilty will be punished,” he said, claiming “there is no question of registration of FIR against the slain youth.”
Palhalan killing: Inquiry officer records statements
Srinagar, Feb 12: The inquiry officer appointed to probe Palhallan killing Thursday recorded statement of four people, said to be eyewitness of the firing incident that led to killing of 20 year old Farooq Ahmad Bhat.
Officials said Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pattan Hameeda Akthar recorded the statements of the four witnesses.
Officials said inquiry officer will record the statement of Farooq’s family after the Chaharum of the victim youth.
Pertinently, a day after the killing of the youth, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Talat Parvaiz set up an inquiry committee to investigate the killing.
On Wednesday the inquiry officer visited the bereaved family. She has also written a letter to SDPO Pattan asking him to provide the names alongwith belt numbers of all those cops who were present at the spot when the killing took place.
She has assured the family and the residents that inquiry will be completed within a week and report will be submitted to DC Baramulla.
“We have registered an FIR against the force personnel. Those who are found involved in killing will be given exemplary punishment,” said DIG Gareeb Das.
“We are providing every necessary detail for a transparent inquiry,” the DIG said .