WRITE-UPS

‘Poonch Custodial deaths’: What actually happened in Topi Peer, Villagers speaks out

By News Desk

December 23, 2023

In the serene recesses of Topi Peer village, sorrow has enveloped this community in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, as an unforeseen intrusion unfolded with the dawn of Friday.

Government forces entered the village and detained several youths for questioning. Tragically, three of these young individuals were discovered dead later in the day within the Bafliaz hospital in Poonch, sparking protests by regional parties in Kashmir and Jammu, urging a thorough investigation into the incident.

Mohammad Sadiq, Panch of Topi peer ward, shared the harrowing account of the events with The Kashmiriyat, lamenting, “The Army’s presence, interrogations, and subsequent brutality have left us grappling with grief.”

According to Sadiq, around 15 individuals were apprehended yesterday morning, three of whom met a fatal end after rigorous questioning. “Five others now languish in Surankote hospital, injured and isolated from our support.”

In the aftermath, Sadiq immediately reached out to authorities, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Superintendent, and the former Member of Legislative Assembly. Unfortunately, his pleas fell on deaf ears. “I tried to appeal for the release of those detained, but no action was taken in time, resulting in the tragic killing of our fellow villagers.”

He continued, “The lifeless bodies lie in ambulances on the road, just 2 kilometers from our current location. We yearn for justice, a severe punishment for the force personnel who have shattered our lives.”

Amidst the prevailing grief, a distressing video has surfaced on social media, revealing the brutality faced by some of the victims. The People’s Democratic Party, represented by Iltija Mufti, condemned the actions of the forces, demanding accountability. Mufti wrote, “Saw a distressing video allegedly of army jawans gleefully stripping civilians in Poonch & pouring heaps of chilli powder over their whipped bottoms. GOI must clarify.”

These incidents unfolded against the backdrop of an ambush on two Indian army vehicles near Dera Ki Gali, claiming the lives of five army personnel. Subsequently, at least ten locals, including Safeer Hussain, Mohammed Showkat, and Shabir Ahmed from Topi peer, were arrested. Reports reveal that three of those detained, including Mohammed Showkat, were brought dead to the hospital, while others sustained injuries.

The three civilians who lost their lives on Friday night were Safeer Ahmed, 48, and his two cousins and co-villagers, Mohammad Showkat, 28, and Shabir Ahmed, 25.

Noor Ahmed, a Head Constable in the Border Security Force, commented after the burial of the three individuals at their ancestral graveyard in the Topi Pir area on Saturday afternoon.

He mentioned that when his brother passed away, he left behind his widow and three young children, leaving his 82-year-old father, Mir Hussain, and 78-year-old mother, Jainab Bi, in a state similar to a coma.

The burial of the three civilians took place amidst unprecedented restrictions imposed by the local administration on movement between Buffliaz in Poonch district and the Thamamandi side of Dehra Ki Gali in Rajouri district, along with the suspension of mobile internet services in the two border districts.

Upon a second contact, Panch Mohammed Sadiq stated, “The burial of the three civilians occurred amid stringent restrictions enforced by the local administration, including limited movement between Buffliaz in Poonch district and the Thamamandi area of Dehra Ki Gali in Rajouri district. Additionally, mobile internet services were suspended in these two border districts.”

The Department of Information and Public Relations, J&K, said, “The death of three civilians was reported yesterday in Baffliaz of Poonch District. The medico-legal formalities were conducted, and legal action in this matter has been initiated by the appropriate authority. The government has announced compensation for each of the deceased. Further, the government also announced compassionate appointments to the next of kin of each deceased.

Farooq Ahmed, Mohammad Arshad, Fazal Hussain (45), Mohammad Mehtab (25), and Zulfikar (14) were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Rajouri. Among them, Fazal, Mohammad, and Zulfikar are residents of the Lower Pangai region in Rajouri.

Noor Ahmed, the BSF Head Constable, revealed that the family learned about Safeer’s death through a phone call from a Deputy Superintendent of Police on Friday evening.

He mentioned that his deceased brother had been involved in working with various agencies engaged in counter-insurgency operations.

Mohammad Iqbal, a local businessman residing in Topa Pir, recounted that Army personnel, along with two police constables, had taken his nephew Showkat Ahmed from his residence on Friday around 10 am. “Upon receiving information, we arrived at Buffliaz by 10 pm on Friday only to find the deceased bodies and injured individuals from Topa Pir village lying by the roadside,” he stated.

Iqbal mentioned that Deputy Commissioner Choudhary, accompanied by SSP Poonch, Vinay Sharma, was present at the scene and requested them to take the bodies for burial, but they declined due to the late hour of the night.

Another villager reported that the deceased individuals had visible signs of torture covering their bodies. He further mentioned that even those hospitalized in Rajouri displayed injury marks on their bodies. Additionally, unverified graphic videos depicting alleged torture inflicted by security personnel on civilians were circulating on social media platforms.

Qamar Choudhary, former MLA of Rajouri, condemned the killings of army personnel, highlighting the unfortunate reality that government force personnel are being targeted by militants. “They do claim that the situation has improved in Jammu Kashmir; however, it is now visible to everyone how much the situation has improved,” he said. Choudhary also expressed concern that people were not being allowed to visit the village.

In response, the Jammu Kashmir administration has ordered an investigation into the custodial killings, acknowledging the deaths in Bafliaz.

Compensation for the deceased and compassionate appointments for their families have been promised by the admin. “Yet, the wounds, both physical and emotional, persist, as we stand united on the road near Dera Ki Gali, refusing to bury our dead in silence. Our cries for justice echo through the pain and grief that has engulfed our village, a testament to the strength and resilience of a community unwilling to be silenced in the face of injustice.”