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.
The incident has triggered concern among observers and rights activists, who say such reports reflect a continuing pattern of excesses during raids and cordon and search operations in the territory, where accountability remains absent.
