Omar Abdullah demands constitution of high-level SIT in Shopian incident

Jammu: Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Omar Abdullah on Friday demanded the constitution of a high-level special investigation team (SIT) to probe the killings of three people in firing by security forces when a convoy was attacked by stone-pelters in Shopian district.

“It will be my humble request to you to constitute high-level special investigation team (SIT) to probe both the FIRs (in Shopian incident). Please give orders to set up a high-level SIT and leave it to them to investigate,” Omar said in Assembly. He was speaking on the grants of home, general administration, planning departments moved by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday.

Omar said that there was now a “battle” over two separate FIRs filed by the police and the Army, and that it would be difficult for a station house officer (SHO) to probe the matter. He said that the magisterial probe, ordered by the state government after incident, would continue separately.

The Army has submitted its version of the January 27 incident, when its convoy was attacked in Shopian district, to the Jammu and Kashmir Police and explained its reasons for opening fire at the stone-pelting mob, officials said on Friday.

According to the Army’s narrative, submitted on Thursday, the force’s convoy was attacked by a group of stone-pelters and its personnel resorted to firing to save themselves, the officials said.

The Army’s version comes after the state police registered an FIR about the incident in Ganovpora area of Shopian in south Kashmir in which three youths were killed.

The FIR filed by the state police does not name any accused but states that a company of 10 Garhwal Rifles led by Major Aditya was on its way for official duty when it was attacked by an unruly mob with stones.

The Shopian incident became a bone of contention between the state’s ruling alliance partners PDP and BJP.

A BJP legislator demanded on the floor of the House that the FIR against the Army be cancelled. This was, however, turned down by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who said the FIR would be taken to its logical conclusion.

Taking a dig at the chief minister, Omar asked why no action had been taken in previous FIRs registered against security forces. “You have assured the people of the state that FIR will be taken to conclusion. It is good. But till now, there has been no action on FIRs (registered against security forces in the past),” Omar said.

He said that since 2000, the state government had forwarded 50 requests to the Centre to give permission for prosecution of central security forces, particularly the Army, where “we have seen human right violations”.

“Forty-seven requests were rejected and three are still pending…This is our track record,” the former chief minister said. Omar said that the security situation was getting worse in the state.

He batted strongly for the grant of compensation to Farooq Ahmed Dar, who was tied to an Army gypsy and paraded through nine villages on the day of bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

“The Army officer who tied him got award but this youth who voted in elections does not deserve even the compensation?” he wondered. The former chief minister asked Mehbooba Mufti to advise her counterparts in New Delhi not to take decisions for the state from there and to consult the state leadership.