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| Kishtwar violence: Why is BJP silent on Justice Gandhi report? | | MoS Revenue in Mufti Govt deposes against Kichloo, senior cops | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 11: Nearly two months have passed since the one-man commission of inquiry headed by Justice (retired) R C Gandhi submitted his report on the Kishtwar violence of August 2013, the BJP has so far not uttered a single word about the report that has indicted former MoS Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and some police and civil officers.
The important aspect of the Justice Gandhi report is that the statement issued before the commission on 5-12-2014 by Sunil Sharma, son of late Bansi Lal Sharma of village Hatta, who happens to be the Minister of State for R&B and Revenue in PDP-BJP coalition government, plays key role in indicting Kichloo and others in the final report of the commission. But the people today question not only the silence of BJP but also of Sunil Sharma.
As per the statement given by Sunil Sharma before the commission, Kichloo along with imam Jamia Masjid Kishtwar Farooq Ahmed Kichloo, separatist leaders Ghulam Nabi Gundna and Abdul Qayoom Mattoo are responsible and conspirator of August 9, 2013 Kishtwar communal violence resulted into the killing of two people, loot, burn and arson of property of a particular community and demanded action against Kichloo and others.
Sharma had also stated that on violence day he was at Kishtwar and the simmering events were visible before Eid.
The events were such as the Kalsh Yatra started by Hindus from village Poochal which was to terminate at Bhandarkote, was attacked by the Muslim boys when it reached village Sangrambhata. One boy Ranmeet Singh was injured and his motorcycle was ransacked. The Kalash Yatra though was taken up to Bhandarkote, the administration diverted the route of the Yatra to reach back to Poochal from where it originated. There was attack on a security personnel who was beaten at bus stand. At Chatroo village also one security personnel was beaten by the Muslims. Another incident is that a boy was coming to the bazar from his house situated at Poochal and when he reached the bazar he was beaten up by the Muslim boys.
Another incident is that the labourers who were living in the area of Bus stand were threatened during night by anti-national elements to leave Kishtwar otherwise they would have to pay a heavy price.
Against all these incidents FIRs were lodged but these were not investigated. The glaring instances are that two months earlier, situation was created by the ideologues of separatists to defame the VDCs by spreading false propaganda that VDC members are stoning the houses of Muslims which was totally false. There was also false propaganda that the Hindus were attacking the houses of Muslims during nights. All this proved false but these rumors created an atmosphere of hatred. Administration was totally silent on this.
Also, a conspiracy was planned by Sajjad Kichloo, Minister for Home, as during the night of 7th and 8th August, 2013 posters of Maqbool Bhat, Afzal Guru and Shabir Shah were posted in Kichloo Mohalla, Kishtwar and particularly on the walls of the house of Kichloo.
During the days 6th, 7th and 8th Sajjad Kichloo along with Farooq Kichloo, Imam of the Jamia Masjid, Ghulam Nabi Gundna, and Abdul Qayoom Mattoo travelled in the vehicle of Kichloo to visit the villages Hullerof , Sangrambhata, Puhi, Bhandrina & Hunjala.
Sharma stated that Ghulam Nabi Gundna, Abdul Qayoom Mattoo and Farooq Kichloo had separatist background and Gundna had been also kept behind bars under the provisions of PSA while his son is in Pakistan for last 20 years and he is a top leader of a militant organization in Pakistan. He is also instrumental for recruiting young boys from Kishtwar for militancy and training in Pakistan.
Sharma also stated that on 9th August, 2013 the processions came for Eid namaz particularly from these villages which were visited by Kichloo and others. Being a Minister he should have taken care of the administration and see that nothing untoward happens and people celebrate Eid happily. Procession came only at his instance as it never happened earlier in the history of Kishtwar that people from the villages came in large procession raising Islamic and anti-India slogans and they were also having small containers with them like milk pots. The atmosphere on their such slogans was surcharged while they crossed the Kuleed village which is dominantly of Hindus. The atmosphere there was surcharged and when the procession reached Kuleed Chowk, just to create a trouble, some boys out of the procession pounced upon a Police Constable in Uniform namely Varinder Singh who came driving the motor cycle from opposite direction, and started beating him. He was saved by the Police personnel and made to run from there. Just while he ran from there, his motor cycle was burnt and instead of going for Eid Namaz they started burning the Kuleed Chowk by pouring some substance which they had brought in small containers with them and within 10-15 minutes all the shops which were more than three Dozen in an area of about 500 yards were burnt and smoke started gushing from there.
On that day I (Sunil Sharma) was to go to village Padyarna where a dead body was recovered and the people had asked me to come there. Before going there, I started from my village which is behind Helipad Sarkoot side as I was to go to Hospital to get doctor for post mortem of the dead body. I started on foot and went to the Hospital via Bunstan, Hidyal Chowk and then from Hidyal Chowk via old Bus stand and crossing the streets I reached the district Hospital, Kishtwar. On enquiry there I found that the doctor was not available who was to conduct the post mortem. From the hospital I telephoned to the B.M.O. and told him that I needed a doctor to go with me for conducting post mortem of a dead body at village Padyarana. The BMO told me that he will send the doctor after the Eid Namaz. It was at about 10.AM. While I was passing through this way via Bun Astan, Hidyal Chowk, old Bus stand and the streets to reach the hospital, I saw number of young boys in the way standing with lathis and iron rods in their hands but their faces were covered by cloth, particularly black cloth. I was suspicious that why it is so happening on Eid day. When I came back from hospital via Bazar, the same was the position in the Bazar also. The naqabposh boys having iron rods and lathis in their hands were roaming in the Bazar and they were driving 3-4 motor cycles also upon which the naqabposh were going here and there. Full road i.e. Bazar road and streets were full of these naqabposh boys from hospital to Dak Bunglow. In the Bazar I saw also a Police Jeep in which Dy. SP, Farooq Qaiser was sitting, having round of the Bazar, but he did not prevent the naqabposh boys and turned a blind eye towards them. He should have asked them the reason as to why they are roaming in the Bazar & streets having covered their cases, but he did not react to it. He stated that after I reached at Dak Bunglow chowk at about 10.15 AM. When I further proceeded via Bun Astan and T.B. Hospital and reached near the Bhartiya Vidya Mandir I heard the noise from Kuleed Chowk and anti India slogans being raised by the people. I crossed the Chowgan and reached to Kuleed Chowk. I was standing about 10 ft. away near the Chinar tree, I saw myself that the Namazees those who came in procession were burning the shops by pouring some substance which was some liquid substance which may be kerosene oil, petrol or diesel and within minutes so many shops were put on fire. In that moment when they noticed me standing there they came towards me and started arguing with me and I told them for God sake don't do this, today is Eid day, you celebrate the Eid. They told me that by evening you will come to know that Eid has been celebrated which was never celebrated in Kishtwar. I felt in-secured and also felt that they may attack me. I left the place and went towards Sarkoot temple. It was about 10.40 A.M. when I reached there. When I was just about to reach to the Temple there was firing upon me by some person and I went running inside the temple and saved myself. I telephoned from the temple to the DC Kishtwar, he picked up the phone and I told that situation is abnormal and Kishtwar be handed over to Army so that it could be saved from the miscreants. He said 'yes we will see, we will see'. The situation at Kuleed chowk was visible to the Namazees and also to the Minister who had also come for offering Namaz and to the Deputy Commissioner also. They could see from there Kuleed chowk is burning and smoke coming out from the burning shops. After the Namaz prayer, these hooligans who burnt the shops and many others, they did not go to offer Namaz prayer and preferred to burn the shops rather to offer Eid Namaz.
After the Eid Namaz Kichloo along with DC went to the Dak Bunglow whereas the SP, Sunil Gupta, ASP Kulbir Singh and Tehsildar and few police nafri went to the Kuleed chowk but could not control it. Fire tender was standing there and it could not work as it was made standing without water. The witness stated that the procession came for the first time in the history of Kishtwar for offering Namaz prayer. Earlier the Namazees from these villages and other surrounding villages were coming individually or in a group of 5-10 persons and not like the way came in hundreds in a procession. Police could not control as the mob was very big and shops were burning by that time. The Police already posted there was very less though there was SSB picket in the Chowk and CRPF personnel also deployed but they were unable to control the mob.
He stated that the Imam had sent a message and told the Imams of the villages Sangrambhata, Puhi & Huller that they should inform the people on mike on 8th that the people should come for offering Namaz prayers in procession raising slogans. This was known to Mr. Kichloo, Minister, Ghulam Nabi Gundna and Abdul Qayoom Mattoo beside the DIG of Police who is very closed to them particularly to the Minister and whenever he comes to Kishtwar he does not miss a visit to meet the Imam of the Jamia Masjid. This whole plan is the handiwork of these persons and the DIG of Police Ashkoor Wani and DC Saleem Mohammad. The witness stated that after the Eid Namaz the Minister and the DC instead of going to the Kuleed Chowk went to the Dak Bunglow and did not bother to visit the Kuleed Chowk where shops were burning. He further stated that had they gone on spot and snubbed the incident , advised the people not to indulge in such things, it would have ended then and there itself but they did not go there deliberately, as they were aware that whatever they have planned and designed their purpose is being achieved. The Minister and the D.C. throughout the day remained in the Dak Bunglow.
Immediately after burning of the Kuleed Chowk the people of both the communities assembled in the Chowgan and formed two barring groups. The SP along with his nafri was seen in the Chowgan making both the barring groups of Hindus and Muslims at some distance so that any untoward incident may not occur on spot. Had the SP not done so, there would have been causalities also and this was saved by the Superintendent of Police and his few Police personnel. The Minister and the DC sitting in the Dak Bunglow were having this information and could also see from the Dak Bunglow with their own eyes that what is happening in the Chowgan and despite that information they did not come out from the Dak Bunglow which shows itself that they are part of the conspiracy and were happy that whatever conspiracy they have hatched it is yielding good results.
After burning the Kuleed Chowk the processionists and some people from the Chowgan went towards the Bazar. Some started stoning Dak Bunglow and some burnt a few shops in the Dak Bunglow Chowk. Since such disturbances erupted therefore I dropped my program to go to village Padyarana.
At about Noon at the time of 'Ajan' Noon Namaz, Imam of Jamia Masjid Farooq Kichloo made an announcement on the mike that Kaffirs (Hindus) have attacked the Muslims and the Muslims with whatever weapon they have in their houses should come out with weapons and assemble in the mosque. This appeal was a part of the conspiracy. After this appeal, according to the conspiracy, the naqabposh and other anti national elements started breaking the shutters, looting and burning the shops in the Bazar selectively belonging to the Hindu community. The shops which were taken on rent by the Hindus from the Muslim owners of the shop, their shutters were broken only, material was thrown out, looted and burnt but shops were not damaged and the shops which were of Hindus and they were running their own shops their shutters were broken, material was looted and burnt and the shops were also burnt. After the appeal by the Imam there was total attack of the Muslim boys on the shops throughout the Bazar and the shops, hotels and houses of the Hindus which were burnt in Dak Bunglow chowk, Shahidi Chowk, Om Mehta Chowk, Hospital area, DC Office area and in front of the Police Station. Shops, hotels and houses in Om Mehta Chowk were completely burnt. The shops in front of the Hospital, DC Office and the Police Station were also burnt where there was police also in addition to the police deployed in the Bazar but they did not react. The witness stated that it is astonishing that the Constabulary did not react at all. They were silent spectators as if they have come only to witness this burning and looting. Only some Havaldars and the above rank officials who were having explosive material they were sometimes firing shells in the air. After burning the Bazar, Amar Market was burnt where about a dozen shops were burnt which is the main hub of the city. All this has happened under a well knit conspiracy of the Minister Sajjad Kichloo, DIG of Police, Ashkoor Wani and to some extent involvement of the Dy SP also who had a round of the city at 10.00 AM which I saw in the Bazar but he did not ask anything to the naqabposh while these boys were roaming duly armed in the Bazar and why he did not take any action. In addition to this Ghulam Nabi Gundana, Abdul Qayoom Mattoo and the IGP, Rajesh Kumar of Jammu Zone are also involved in the conspiracy. As the witness stated the name of IGP, the Commission wanted to know from the witness as to how the IGP is a co-conspirator. The witness stated that from his conduct even a lay man can understand whether he is a co-conspirator or not. He was aware of the things as the Minister had already taken him in confidence. Had he not been taken in confidence, Kishtwar could have been saved to a greater extent. The witness stated that DIG of Police being very clever and part of the conspiracy along with the Minister Sajjad Kichloo went out from the station to give an impression that he is not involved in it. Not only this, he in order to save himself, as I have heard, took casual leave but there is no record of any such casual leave as I have come to know from my own sources. Their conduct depicts shows that they were part of the conspiracy to oblige the Minister and that is why they had not acted timely otherwise they should have acted with due diligence as honest police officers and this situation would not have been there. Districts Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban are sensitive districts. This was Amar Nath Yatra & Machhail Yatra period and sufficient force was additionally available in District Doda and Ramban. I have come to know from the investigating team and the staff of the Superintendent of Police Doda and of Ramban District that in District Doda, in addition to the police of the District Police Lines and the police posted in the Police Stations there was additional force of CRPF, Armed Police and the SSB nafri to the extent of 1600 as surplus to deal with any emergent situation if any arises. Similar was the position in District Ramban where more than 2500 such police officers/persons of Armed Police, CRPF and SSB were available in surplus to deal with any emergent situation. The IGP is the Incharge of the Zone and was aware of this spare nafri also that DIGof Police is on leave, had he moved even 300, 400 or 500 police personnel from District Doda to Kishtwar , it could have reached within 2 hours at the maximum as the distance is only of 60 kms. The trouble started at 10.00 AM. The IGPwas aware by 10.30 AM and had he moved this force from District Doda of 300 or 400 personnel it would have reached in Kishtwar by about 12.15 or 12.30 P.M. before Noon Namaz and if this force had entered the Bazar, there would have been great effect of the police force and the Gunda elements could not have succeeded in burning the Bazar. This was done deliberately by them and they provided sufficient time to the Gundas to burn the Bazar that instead of from Doda or from Ramban districts, the reinforcement was directed to go from Jammu and Srinagar Districts which would ordinarily take 7-8 hours and this is what happened. It was done deliberately to provide space to the hooligans.
The Commission further asked the witness as to what is evidence with the witness for the involvement of the IGP and the DIG of Police in the conspiracy as stated. The witness in reply has stated that the Commissioner/Secretary Home, Director General of Police of the State, Addl. Director General of Police and the IGP reached Kishtwar on 9th and stayed there for the night and devised some actions to be taken to strengthen the administration and I feel that the decision might have been taken by them for transfer of the lower subordinate Constables who did not react or prevented the naqabposh from burning the Bazar and under that policy large number of transfers were made of the lower subordinates from District Kishtwar to outside on 10th or 11th August, 2013 by the Inspector General of Police. It is surprising that soon the Minister was inducted in the Cabinet after submission of the Interim Report by the Commission, the IGP to oblige the Minister & being part of the conspiracy re-transferred them back. These transfers were made as per my information, by the IGP by pre-dating the orders as the Code of Conduct for Parliament Election was in vogue which came into effect from Ist of March, 2014. The pre-dating of the orders by the IGP is evident from the record of the DIGof Police on which date these orders were received by him and on which date the transferred incumbents joined the office of the DIG of Police. The witness further stated that the subordinate Constabulary was transferred as a reward to them as they, by not preventing the naqabposh boys, accomplished the task of conspiracy of the Minister. The re-transfers were also made for keeping an eye on further Assembly Elections. The Constabulary felt rewarded for their non-reaction on 9th August, 2013, otherwise there is no reason as to why they should be transferred back within 6 months.
Witness stated that each officer has played the role of Conspirator as per the direction of the Minister, such as the DC remained with the Minister throughout the day and even left the Dak Bunglow by jumping the rear wall of the Dak Bunglow and went to the house of Abdul Kabir Gilkar which they should not have done and left the people at their mercy. DIGof Police and the IGP have also supported and obliged the Minister by their active, tangible & visible participation which is evident from their conduct. The DIGof Police wanted to be out from the scene cleverly whereas IGP provided good space and time to the naqabposh boys to burn the Bazar.
The witness stated that it is but natural coming out from the events and facts which took place on 9thAugust, 2013 that there is a conspiracy headed by the Minister with the IGP, DIG of Police and to some extent Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Imam Farooq Kichloo, Ghulam Nabi Gundna and Abdul Qayoom Mattoo, otherwise, had the reinforcement been made available from District Doda, the plan of conspiracy, to a greater extent, would have been frustrated. The Police officers, instead of saving the life of the people, obliged the Minister being a part of the conspiracy.
The witness stated that the people who have suffered in terms of their property and life have not been suitably compensated and the claims of some sufferers have been completely rejected. They deserve to be rehabilitated and further stated that Commission should not shut eyes on this important aspect. The witness also stated that Special Investigation Team constituted for investigation of the incident of 9thAugust, 2013 has also not done justice with the public. For instance he has quoted the name of one, Asheesh Kumar s/o Subash Chander, R/o Berabhata Kishtwar who was not at Kishtwar on that day but was at Jammu and he has been implicated in a criminal case at the behest of their master by the Special Investigation Team. Similarly, there are number of innocent persons who have been involved only for the reason that Muslim boys who have committed the offence were involved; therefore, to maintain balance the Special Investigation Team falsely involved innocent Hindu boys also. Witness stated that it is a fact that Hindu boys were nowhere present, whereas they have been involved in other cases also. |
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