Silence, impunity have become norm in IIOJK: Mehbooba Mufti on Kulgam human shield incident
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has said that “silence and impunity have become a norm” in the territory, while highlighting reports of a Kashmiri civilian being critically injured after being used as a human shield during an Indian Army search operation in Kulgam district.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian Army troops during a search operation in Khul village of Kulgam detained over 10 youths and took them into a nearby forest area, where they were used as human shields. During the operation, a youth identified as Mohammad Jahangir Malik was forced into a dark cave, where he was attacked by a bear and critically injured, while troops remained at a safe distance. The injured civilian was later hospitalised in critical condition.
Reacting to the episode, Mehbooba Mufti said on social media platform X that despite the passage of over a week, no action had been taken by either the police or the concerned Rashtriya Rifles unit involved in the operation.
“It has been over a week since Mohammad Jehangir Malik of Khul Noorabad was allegedly used as a human shield by RR personnel during a search operation in Gujjar Basti. Forced to enter a cave during the operation, he was attacked by a bear and critically injured, requiring hospitalisation,” she said.
“Yet, till date, no action has been taken by either the police or the concerned RR camp. Silence and impunity have become the norm,” she added.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Indian troops have used Kashmiris as human shields, with several such incidents reported in the past. One of the most widely condemned cases occurred on April 9, 2017, in Budgam district, when Indian Army officer Major Leetul Gogoi tied a local Kashmiri youth, Farooq Ahmad Dar, to the bonnet of an army jeep and used him as a human shield. Gogoi claimed that the act was intended to protect his convoy from stone-pelting, but the incident drew widespread international condemnation and was described as a grave violation of human rights. Instead of holding those responsible accountable, the Indian military has often rewarded officers involved of such abuses. In Gogoi’s case, rather than facing disciplinary action, he was awarded a commendation medal by the then Indian Army chief, General Bipin Rawat.
