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| Torturing of Ajay Kumar by "SIT" may disturb peace in sensitive Kishtwar | | Policy of appeasement | | Rustam
JAMMU, Oct 3: August 9 witnessed violence in Kishtwar on an unprecedented scale. The violence was, according to local people, "a planned affair" and was aimed at "causing migration of the Hindu community so that pro-Pakistan and pro-Greater Kashmir forces could play their nefarious games in the area and create a Kashmir-like situation". Medical Education Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, who was sent to Kishtwar by the Chief Minister to take stock of the situation and help the local administration to restore peace and calm in the area, had told the visiting delegation of the targeted minority community that what happened at Kishtwar was the handiwork of those who wanted to de-link Kishtwar from Jammu province and merge it with Kashmir so that Greater Kashmir was established.
The violence had resulted into the resignation of the then Minister of State Home Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo, who hails from Kishtwar itself. He was very much present in the town that dark day. The minority community alleged his involvement in what happened on August 9. The violence had shocked the nation to the extent that the Parliament discussed the issue for two days, August 12 and 13, with almost all those who spoke on the issue condemning the Omar Abdullah-led coalition Government and charging it with allow the "situation to deteriorate". While the BSP had demanded dismissal of the Omar Abdullah Government in case it was incompetent to deal with the situation, the CPI-M had said that Omar Abdullah Government allowed the situation to deteriorate. The BJP, on the other hand, had told the House of Elders that Jammu and Kashmir did not belong to "one family". He hinted at the Abdullah family.
Such was the nature of the anger in Jammu and elsewhere that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had to appoint an inquiry committee under retired Judge of High Court RC Gandhi, whose appointment as its chairman was not "appreciated" by many in Jammu and elsewhere for various reasons, to look into the whole gory episode and fix the responsibility on those who resorted to violence or engineered violence. The inquiry committee was given one month's time and now an extension of one more month has been given to it.
It was hoped that the Omar Abdullah-led dispensation would ensure peace in Kishtwar and also ensure that the local administration and police did not create tensions in the district by adopting a vindictive attitude towards the minority community, but the hope of the minority community stands totally belied. Sources from Kishtwar reveal that ever since the lifting of curfew, certain "pliable" elements in the police and civil administration are "targeting some innocent youth belonging to the minority community and falsely implicating them to remain in the good books of the Government and promote their self-interests". The same sources also say that "minor Ajay Kumar, who is totally innocent, was being victimized, harassed and tortured by the local police for the same reason".
Ajay Kumar was "mercilessly beaten up" by Kishtwar police and Special Investigating Team (SIT) for seven days. He suffered serious internal injuries. When he was handed over to his family, he was not even able to walk and reach his house. He was in a very bad shape and vomiting. The doctors who examined him feared that the seriously injured Ajay Kumar might had sustained internal injuries and his intestines might have been ruptured due to beating by the police. Convinced that the condition of Ajay Kumar had considerably deteriorated, the doctors referred him to the Jammu Medical College Hospital.
The gory incident has created tension in the area with women holding protest demonstrations against the police and other people demanding registration of attempt to murder case against the two police offices who allegedly beat up innocent minor boy. Those attending the mercilessly beaten up innocent youth told that
the "two police officers wanted him to toe their line so that they could falsely implicate certain persons and tell their bosses that they were responsible for the August 9 Kishtwar violence". If what they said is to be believed, then it can be said that the local police is out to harass the minority community. Incidentally, those who allegedly beat up Ajay Kumar belong to the minority community itself.
The situation is serious. The State Government must intervene before it is too late. |
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