[It's a blatant trampling of all civilised norms and also of the Geneva Convention.
Holding a "non-combatant" - an uninvolved civilian, as a captive and using him as a "shield" in a military operation, putting his life and limbs at mortal risk, goes against the very basics of the Geneva Covention. It's a criminal offence. In fact, the case is under investigation (separately) by both the army and the police. (Ref.: <http://www.ptinews.com/news/8727976_Army-officer-who-tied-man-to-jeep-in-Kashmir-awarded.html> and <http://indianexpress.com/article/india/officer-who-tied-kashmiri-man-to-jeep-gets-award-bjp-mp-paresh-rawal-says-do-this-to-arundhati-roy-4669043/>.) Yet the man responsible is awarded! A frightening disregard for the rule of law, by an arm of the state itself!] http://www.theweek.in/news/india/human-shield-farooq-appalled-at-award-to-major-gogoi.html 'Human shield' Farooq shocked at award to Major Gogoi By Tariq Bhat | May 23, 2017 [File photo] The incident had sparked outrage within and outside Kashmir and had brought in major embarrassment to the PDP-BJP government The major, who tied Farooq to use as a human shield, has been honoured by the army Farooq Ahmed Dar, who was used as a human shield by Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi on April 9 in Kashmir's Budgam, said award to the army major reflected army's mentality towards Kashmiris. Major Gogoi was on Monday honoured with the army chief's 'commendation card' for his 'sustained efforts' in counter- insurgency operations. Army source said the officer has been awarded for his excellent track record in counter-insurgency operations. “I want to ask the army chief how would he feel if someone ties his son to the jeep and parades him for 27 kms for no fault of his?” Dar told THE WEEK. “It is highly shameful that the man who put me through such a horror has been felicitated.” The 26-year old shawl artisan said he was yet to recover from the trauma and resume work. “What they did to me is still playing in my head,” he said. “They fractured my hand and it sill hurts. I am yet to resume work because of what they did to me.” The incident had sparked outrage within and outside Kashmir and had brought in major embarrassment to the PDP-BJP government. Many former army officers, journalists and citizens had described the act as highly damaging to the image of the army internationally. Curiously, the award coincided with the birthday of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, once a champion of rights, who had promised investigation into the matter for action against the accused. However, awarding the accused officer is seen as a setback to the government and army's efforts to restore order in Kashmir which has witnessed renewed agitation by the youth and students April. Recalling how he was seized and strapped to the front bumper of the jeep, Farooq, a resident of Chil Bras in Budgam and one of the few people who had voted in the morning of the Lok Sahba polls for Srinagar on April 9 that recorded a dismal 7.13 per cent turnout, said he was going to attend a condolence meeting of a relative at Gampora in Pulwama on his bike when the Army stopped him at Utligam and thrashed him. Some women had tried to intervene but the Army took him with them and made him to sit on a tyre on the front bumper. “After that, a soldier was daring the stone pelters to throw stones at the jeep,” he said. Dar was later released upon the village sarpanch's request. He said he didn't register a complaint against the army for fear reprisal. “I have an old mother to look after, I left it at that,” he said. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
