‘Army officer S. Baskhi’s role proven in the massacre, he continues run scot free, time for a free, fresh and time-bound international probe into massacre’
Srinagar: Chairman International Forum for Justice and Human Rights, Muhammad Ahsan while reacting to the delay in justice with the 27 innocent Kashmiris most of them traders who fell to the bullets of army men on the fateful day of 27 January, 1994 at north Kashmir’s Kupwara district said that the case was disposed off and just because army unit involve in the massacre didn’t cooperate with the investigating agency. He said that closing the case for the non-cooperation of the army unit is the biggest injustice with the people who fell to the countless bullet fired by the army men headed by the then Field Officer JDS Baskhi, who presided over the one of the Kashmir’s biggest genocide.
Untoo urged the international community to wake up and to launch an independent and transparent probe into the Kupwara massacre so that souls of those who were butchered on this day, 25 years ago, could at least remain in peace. “On the 25thanniversary of Kupwara massacre, I urge the world community to appoint a team of experts for starting an independent probe into the incident so that guilty army men are brought to justice,” he said.
Untoo said that after the massacre an FIR no.19/1994 under section 302, 307 lodged in Police Station Kupwara reads that, “in a criminal assault, the soldiers of 31 Medium Regiment who were on road opening party duty led by Field Officer S. Bakshi gunned down scores of people in indiscriminate firing in Kupwara market and its vicinity without any provocation.”
EYE-WITNESSES RECOUNT HORROR:
Gulam Hassan, a trader of Kupwara town: “A patrol party of Punjab regiment of Army had warned the shopkeepers on the eve of January 26 of dire consequences if they observe strike and didn’t celebrate the R-day. On 24 January 1994 some Army men and policemen entered into a verbal duel near old bridge Kupwara and soldiers threatened police of dire consequences after Jan 26 passes off peacefully. Next day on Jan 25 some Army personnel called out worshipers from Jamia Masjid Kupwara and thrashed them including Imam of the Masjid. On Jan 26 as usual people of Kupwara observed complete shutdown. Next day early in the morning we met the then district magistrate Kupwara Yaseen Shah at his residential quarter and brought the excesses and thrashing of Imam into his notice who assured us that matter will be taken up with the concerned army higher ups.”
“We returned after meeting the DC. As we were about to reach the old bridge a single firing shot was heard which was followed by a rain of bullets. All were seen running for safety, the firing lasted at least for an hour. I hid in a vegetable shop. After a lull I came out of the shop and there were horrific scenes of bloodbath all around.”
“Among the 27 people killed by Army, mostly were traders, some government employees and a policeman. As many as 38 persons were injured, some left handicapped for life.”
GULAM MOHI-UD-DIN MIR:
“It was a foggy morning of Jan 27. The shopkeepers had hardly opened their shops. I was accompanying my brother Gulam Nabi Malik, working in social forestry department, who was going to attend his duties at Divisional Forest Office Zangli. As we reached near SDH Kupwara around 10:30 a.m. we heard some gun shots and within seconds there was firing from all directions. A soldier at hospital road aimed at my brother who was wearing a Khaki jacket and shot at him. Several bullets pierced his chest and he fell on ground. He started bleeding profusely. I was not allowed to lift my brother and take it to hospital which was hardly 50 yards away from the spot. Resultantly, my brother died on the spot. I along with some other people took shelter on the upper storey of a medical shop and watching all this from a small door.
As the firing stopped, vehicles carrying injured started rushing towards the hospital, I saw an Army officer stopping a vehicle and asking the names and profession of the people.
As a vehicle carrying injured was stopped on the hospital gate, a man was asked by the Army officer to get down from the vehicle. He was shot dead on spot. Later he was identified as Khazr Muhammad of Cheerkote (Lolab) who had argued with the officer that he was an employee in DC office Kupwara and he was taking his injured relative to hospital.
I still remember the Army officer firing at Khazr Muhammad from a point blank range. I also took my brother to the hospital where doctors said that he was brought dead. There I saw 18 bodies including bodies of two policemen who were in uniform. Later 9 more injured succumbed to their injuries.”
CASE CLOSED, VICTIMS’ FAMILIES WAIT FOR JUSTICE
The investigation of the case was closed as ‘un-traced’ on 10 April 1997 on the basis of “non-cooperation of army authorities”.
A petition was filed by Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, the chairman of the International Forum for Justice and Human Rights wherein state run human rights commission had asked the authorities to submit a report about the massacre. The police investigative agency had sought response from the army, which issued a letter stating that a Court of Inquiry had been constituted to probe the incident. But the outcome of the Court of Inquiry was not furnished to the police.
Also, the CID report reads that on 24 September 2004, the police reopened the case and then additional SP was tasked with the inquiry but despite repeated requests the army did not provide the requisite information.
However, the army services corps’ 31 medical regiment had said that no documents regarding the case were lying with it and asked the CID to approach the 28 Infantry Division. In a statement to Valley Media Service, a letter was written to the 28 infantry division on 28 May 2005 for information regarding the case but till date the said unit has furnished nothing even after repeated reminders.
Another notice under section 25 of the Police Act was served to JDS Bakshi, asking him to appear before the investigation officer on 27 February 2010 but he didn’t turn up.
In a rejoinder filed by Untoo on 11 May 2012, Inspector General of police (CID) submitted a report to the Director General of police, J&K wherein he stated that the forces deployed in Kupwara under the command of 2nd lieutenant S Bakshi had indiscriminately fired at Bus Stand Kupwara without any provocation, killing several persons besides injuring many.
The report further reads that as per the statements recorded under section 161 of CrPC and evidence, the National Crime Agency (NCA) personnel deployed for Road Opening Party (ROP) duties in Kupwara town were responsible for the massacre.
The State Human Rights Commission had also asked the union ministry of home affairs to persuade the ministry of defence to cooperate with the police in the investigation. The home ministry had referred the case to the defence ministry but no progress was made.(VMS)