Baramulla killing, June 2009

Baramulla [...] refers to the [...] of four people in an indiscriminate firing incident by Indian Armed Forces over the unarmed protestors protesting against the overnight alleged indecent behaviour of a policemen in police station with a woman.

Background

The protests started on the evening of Sunday 28 June 2009 when a woman of Sheeri Baramulla alleged that she was harassed and abused by police men in police station Baramulla. She had visited the police station to seek the release of her husband, who was detained by the police. This provoked a massive protest demanding action against the policemen involved in the incident. Next day in the morning people again came on the streets to protest the alleged misbehavior, and demanding stern action against the accused policemen. The CRPF and police, which are heavily deployed in this town of Jammu and Kashmir, swung into action and lobbed tear smoke canisters to disperse them. However, the protesters offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones, triggering clashes. Amid clashes, police and troopers resorted to indiscriminate firing, [...] two people. As the situation took an ugly turn, reinforcements were rushed to the area and the district administration imposed indefinite curfew in the town. However, in subsequent days, angered by killings and use of unproportionate force against unarmed protestors, people Defied curfew restrictions took to streets in several parts of Baramulla town. Chanting pro-freedom, anti-India and anti-police slogans, the protesters clashed with police, who fired tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the agitating people. In three days police killed four persons and injured hundreds.

CM regrets [...], orders probe

The unionist Chief Minister of the state who was already accused of mishandling the Shopian [...] and [...] case of two women allegedly by Indian Armed Forces responded with caution and ordered a megisterial probe to investigate the firing and the allegations of the woman and regreted the [...] of four persons in Baramulla. He also passed directions to all armed forces asking them to keep their guns silent while dealing with the protestors, and asked CRPF to withdraw from Baramulla town with an immediate effect and Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police replaced CRPF in the town immediately. The District Magistrate Baramulla Latif-u-Zaman Deva officially ordered the time-bound probe to be conducted by Additional District Magistrate Baramulla Muhammad Ashraf Shanthoo and submit the report within 10 days. SSP Baramulla was also directed to appoint Presenting Officer of the rank of Gazetted Officer to assist the Magistrate in conduct of inquiry. The probe would ascertain the circumstances responsible for resort to firing. On 2 July 2009 a [...] case was registered against the CRPF man who had reportedly fired without any provocation and the CRPF authorities were asked to handover the trooper to Baramulla police for arrest and investigation.

Strikes and protests

Soon after the death of two persons on the first day authorities imposed an indefinite curfew on the town to control the situation. Next day Hurriyat Conference called for three-day Valley-wide strike in protest against the [...] of two protestors in police firing in Baramulla, on 29 June 2009 and inordinate delay of authorities to punish the culprits of Shopian incident. However, on 30 July 2009 protests were held all over Kashmir valley. Authorities had imposed curfew-like restrictions in Sopre, Bandipora, Kupwara Handwara, Srinagar and Islamabad. Barricades and barbed wires were used to seal the roads and by-lanes at various crossing points. However, people defied cufew and hundreds of protesters marched on streets raising pro-freedom, anti-CRPF and anti-India slogans. They were demanding action against the erring troopers who opened fire on the peaceful demonstrators. Policemen and troopers who were deployed in the strength in the area beat them up with batons and fired tear smoke canisters to disperse them. CRPF personnel barged into houses and started beating the inmates. However, youth retaliated with stones, triggering clashes. Tens of protestors were injured. Indian troopers didn't allow the ambulance to enter Khanpora, Baramulla which resulted in death of a youth who succumbed to his injuries. Another youth who had earlier received injuries died in hospital. The policemen fired tear gas shells the funeral procession of the slain youth. The death toll in the police and CRPF personnel firing on unarmed protestors in Baramulla township had risen to four. The town was given under control of J & K Armed Police which staged a flag march in the town to control the situation.

CRPF withdraws

On 1 July 2009 Baramulla town became the first in the valley where the state police took over the charge from the paramilitary CRPF. However the agitating residents of Baramulla town appeared indifferent to the government move. It was stated by many analysts the CRPF worked under direct control of police, therefore, it doesn't matter if CRPF was removed. The Chairman Auqaf-e-Islamia Baramulla, Abdur Rehman Shalla said "Police and CRPF do same things, they kill and beat people."

Medical reports of the victims

On 4 July 2009 the medical report of four people shot dead by the CRPF troopers revealed that the troopers shot the deceased in vital parts with an aim to kill them. The report was submitted to the investigating officer probing the killings.

CRPF raids runs away evidence

The preliminary investigations have revealed that 82 bullets were missing from the ammunition records of the CRPF patrol that was deployed on June 29. On 5 July 2009, in total violation of rules, CRPF party headed by DIG Raju Kumar raided the DC Office complex and took away important files which Shentoo had earlier sought from the local paramilitary unit. At around 8.15 pm a contingent of CRPF personnel descended on the office complex of Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, and took away the pages from the register containing the records of 'Actual Register of Ammunition' on June 29 from the register by the CRPF personnel. The register was a key evidence. On 4 July 2009 a contradictory statement came from CRPF and its officials, the policemen and troopers who were deployed in the town on June 29 claimed that they were unarmed at the time of the incident while the CRPF commandant had inquiry officer contradicted the claims of his subordinates AbOUT they being unarmed while dealing with the protesters.

Victims

• Muhammad Saleem Ahanger son of Abdur Rashid Ahanger of Syed Karim Sahib, Baramulla.
• Tariq Ahmad Malik son of Saifudin Malik of Drangbal, Baramulla.
• Fayaz Ahmed Gojri.
• Amir Rashid Mir (Age: 19 years) son of Abdul Rashid Mir.

See also

• Zakoora And Tengpora Massacre
• Bijbehara Massacre: 22 October 1993
• Gawakadal massacre
• Sopore massacre
• Bomai [...], 2009
• Khaigam [...], 2009
• Shopian [...] and [...] case, May 2009

External links

• "Greater Kashmir" All the archived pages can be accessed from this site in case the link does not open the intended page.
• "Rising Kashmir"