annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Jammu and Kashmir
the matter. 51
On 9 February 2004, several villagers
including women and elderly persons were
mercilessly beaten up allegedly by the
Rashtriya Rifles personnel at Manthori
village of Doda district in retaliation of the
attacks by the armed opposition groups. At
least 8 persons including two women had
to be admitted in District Hospital of
Doda. 52
From 20 to 24 February 2004, the
army allegedly cordoned off a number of
villagers in Kulgam area in Anantnag
district that caused immense hardship to
the villagers. When the cordon was not
lifted even on the fourth day on 24
February 2004, thousands of people from
different villages reportedly converged on
roads and shouted slogans. Carrying
bamboo sticks, the villagers confronted the
army who opened fire to disperse the
agitating mob. 54
On 20 March 2004, the police
allegedly beat up several members of the
Association of Parents of Disappeared
Persons while they were holding a
peaceful demonstration in Srinagar. Parvez
Imroz, Parveena Ahangar and 10 others
were arrested. The policemen mercilessly
beaten up the demonstrators and dragged
them before taking them into custody.
Parveena Ahangar reportedly fell
unconscious after being dragged and
beaten up. Seventy-year-old woman
Sayeeda was also beaten and arrested.
Sixty-five-year old Noor Mohammad Bhat
of Patlan was hit with lathis and gun butts
before his arrest. 54
92
On 12 May 2004, residents of Ajas,
Matipora, Bazipora and other adjoining
areas under Baramullah district alleged
that they were being forced to work as
bonded labourers by the 35th Rashtriya
Rifles camping in the area. They were
allegedly forced to carry the ammunition
and ration items of the security forces into
the forest area, where they were setting up
another camp. The security personnel
allegedly snatched the identity cards from
the residents including the women to force
them to carry the ammunitions and food
items. 55
On 22 August 2004, the Navy officials
posted at Watlab Ghat in Sopore township
allegedly picked up five persons-
Mohammad Subhan Dar, Altaf Dar,
Ghulam Nabi Dar, Bilal Dar and Hajra
Begum and beaten them mercilessly. They
were subsequently released. 56
On 6 December 2004, a youth was
reportedly injured in police firing upon the
demonstrators at Qaimoh-Kulgam in
Poonch district. They were protesting
against the atrocities by the security forces
on people during a three-day operation at
Bhan-Kulgam. The security personnel
allegedly beaten up large number of
people severely. 57
On the intervening night of 9 and 10
December 2004, several policemen
including a Deputy Superintendent and
photo journalists were injured after army
personnel beaten them up following a
dispute over a piece of land in Rehari in
Jammu district. At around 2 am, army
personnel reportedly started constructing