Bhat Yasir
A family in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district alleged that the army entered their house, vandalized the house, and thrashed the family members, a claim rubbished by the Indian Army.
According to the reports reaching The Kashmiriyat, a family from Seer Jageer area of Tral, Pulwama alleged that on Monday evening, the security forces from the nearest camp assaulted them and dragged their daughter out of the house during which, her clothes were also torn.
Ali Mohammed Chopan, the head of the family, alleged that the Army entered their home while they were dining. He alleged that the things in the house were ransacked. “My daughter-in-law and daughter then came out of home and pleaded with the army as to why they were beating us,” Chopan alleged.
He, further, alleged that his daughter was kicked by the army and after suffering severe injuries, she was shifted to SDH Tral by locals.
Ali Mohammed alleged that the army had no apparent reason behind assaulting the family. He also alleged that the Army officer told Chopans to go to Pakistan. “He is telling us – Chopans go to Pakistan,” he said.
The sarpanch of the village, while repeating the allegations, appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and to the administration to intervene into the matter. “I appeal that the administration allots us land at another place to live,” Sarpanch said.
Namberdar of the village, while appealing the higher authorities, asked for the transfer of the officer and alleged that the Army of Yangwani camp was torturing the youth. “We don’t want our innocent men and women to be beaten. This shouldn’t be repeated,” he said. Another local woman, expressing her anguish said, “Which militants are here? They come here, every night,” adding that “Ali Mohammed’s daughter was kicked today, tomorrow it will be another girl.”
The Indian Army however called these allegation as baseless saying that no search of any house or manhandling was carried out by Army at Seer on the night of 27/ 28 Sep 21.
They said that on the evening of 27 Sep 21, an Army night domination party had gone to village Seer and as they were moving near Arapal Nala which passes through the village, they spotted two persons sitting next to the Nala.
“The two individuals were called and when they were being questioned, an individual named Ali Mohammed Chopan and his family members came out of their house, which was nearby. As soon as they came out of the house, Ishrat Jaan, daughter of Ali Mohd Chopan, feigned fainting and the family members started shouting,” they said, adding, “They called other villagers also and started blaming Army for ransacking the house and beating the girl. It is reiterated that Army personnel were not close to the house or to the girl when she feigned fainting.”
The Army said that Ali Mohammed Chopan is father of Shabir Ahmad Chopan, presently in jail under PSA for providing logistic support to Militants. “The family is also related to slain JeM Militant Abdul Hamid Chopan resident of Luragam who was killed on 21 Aug 2021 in Nagaberan during an operation,” they stated.
The Indian Army claimed that the allegation was orchestrated from “Militant supporters” to impede the relentless operations by Security Forces aimed at ensuring “peace” in the Valley.