Violence spikes in Kashmir after videos inflame tension
SRINAGAR: Militants have stepped up attacks in Kashmir, including raids on the homes of police officers, amid a spike in violence after the army allegedly tied a man to the front of a jeep as a human shield.
Police have filed a case against an army unit after soldiers in the Himalayan region were accused of seizing a 24-year-old shawl weaver on April 9, before strapping him to the front of their vehicle and parading him through villages.
A video of the episode widely circulated on social media exemplifies for many viewers the human rights abuses allegedly committed by security forces battling to contain a separatist insurgency now in its 28th year.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the video’s authenticity was being ascertained, adding, “Action will be taken against those found guilty of misconduct.”
Police fired tear gas on Monday to scatter students in the region’s main city of Srinagar, the latest outbreak of protests since demonstrations last week after a botched by-election in which at least eight people were killed.
Some colleges were forced to close.
Over the weekend two more videos circulated on social media showing workers of the ruling political party in the Jammu and Kashmir renouncing mainstream politics, one of them beside a man wielding a gun.
Another video, allegedly showing the killing of a 17-year-old by paramilitary officers during the April 9 by-election, has also stirred anger. Reuters could not confirm the veracity of the videos.
The clashes in Kashmir come ahead of the hot summer months, when protests surge.
Police have registered a case against the local army unit, state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said, urging security forces to exercise restraint.
The state’s police chief on Sunday told officers to avoid visiting their own homes in South Kashmir, after militants stormed the houses of at least four officers.
Militants also shot dead a lawyer affiliated with an opposition party and a former counterinsurgency commander, police said. A worker of the ruling party was killed late on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates on Monday won the two Jammu and Kashmir legislative council seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate lost in a surprise development.
Balbir Singh of the Congress won the council seat polling 31 votes. He was supported by the National Conference.
He polled 12 votes of the Congress, 15 of the National Conference (NC) and four votes of Independent legislators.
BJP candidate Vikram Randhawa and PDP candidate Abdul Qayoom Dar polled 29 votes each.
As per the laid down procedure after the BJP and the PDP candidate were tied at 29 each, the winner was decided by draw of lots, in which BJP’s Vikram Randhawa won.
The electoral college for the state legislative council, which is the Upper H-ouse of Jammu and Kahmir’s bicameral legislature, comprises members of the state legislative assembly, which has 87 elected members and two nominated members, all of whom are eligible to vote in these elections.