Military Abuse

Death Due To Torture By Army

8 years on, SPO’s family still awaits relief  

Ashutosh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 18

Trials are non-starters and investigations long pending in criminal cases like torture and extra-judicial killings involving the security forces in the militancy-hit areas of the state.

It is not only the civilians, who are the victims, sources of the security forces have also fallen prey to the brutality of the Army.

Even eight years after an SPO with the state police died due to the alleged torture by the Army, his family is still awaiting justice. Despite recommendations by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the Home Department, the family has not got any ex-gratia relief so far. Also, the police has failed to produce a challan against the accused for want of evidence.

Tasveer Hussain (26), an SPO posted in Poonch district, was picked up by Army personnel on August 23, 2003. He was beaten mercilessly, resulting in his death in a hospital four days later.

In its judgement of November 10, 2008, the SHRC stated that Tasveer, a resident of Baghyal Dara in Haveli tehsil of Poonch district, was picked up by jawans of 2 JAKLI. “He was beaten mercilessly and later handed over to the police. He was admitted to hospital where he died after some days,” the SHRC said. It added, “The police registered an FIR, but till date the accused had not faced any trial.”

“This is a brute kind of human rights violation by the Army. It is recommended to the state government that a relief of Rs 1 lakh with benefits under SRO-43 be given to next of kin of the deceased,” the SHRC said.

The members of Tasveer’s Family said he was not happy with his monthly salary of Rs 1,500 and wanted to go to Saudi Arabia to earn money. They said the Army, however, wanted him to work for it as a source in the counter-insurgency operations.

“Tasveer did not agree with the Army as he knew about the fate of some of the local Army sources,” said Mohammad Hussain, brother of the deceased SPO. He added that, “This prompted the Army to use coercive measures.” “The state Home Department issued an order on May 5, 2009, granting ex gratia, but it has not been paid to us so far,” he added.

SSP, Poonch, Ashkoor Ahmed Wani said, “The investigation in the case is going on. The challan could not be produced against the erring Army personnel for want of evidence.” He expressed helplessness saying, “With the passage of time it becomes difficult to collect evidence. Army units shift to different locations while the Army officers concerned retire.”

“There are cases of military abuse against the security forces in the police records, but their number is limited,” he said.