New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action taken report within four weeks from the defence ministry in the “human shield” incident involving the Army in the Kashmir Valley.
“It is requested that an action taken report be sent to the commission within four weeks of the receipt of this letter,” read the National Human Rights Commission communication sent to the secretary, ministry of defence.
The rights panel had acted on a complaint by Akhand, an activist of the Civil Society Forum on Human Rights in Bhubaneswar, who alleged that the Army had violated the law by tying a man to a jeep and using him as a “human shield” against stone-pelters in Kashmir’s Budgam district in April.
Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz too had urged the commission to take cognisance of the incident, sources said.
Major Leetul Gogoi had tied Farooq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Budgam, to a jeep and allegedly used him as a shield against stone-pelters in the Valley.
A video showing Dar tied to an Army vehicle on April 9, the day the by-election to the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency was held, had triggered a public outcry, prompting the Army to institute a probe.
The incident has been criticised by human rights activists, Kashmiri groups and a retired Army general.
