FIR lodged against army jawans for tying Kashmiri man to jeep as shield

Left: Dar tied to Army jeep in Kashmir/ Right: Dar's picture taken at the police station

Srinagar: An FIR was lodged on Sunday against unnamed army personnel for allegedly using a civilian as a human shield against stone-pelters during the election in Beerwah area of Lok Sabha constituency. The case was registered two days after a video went viral showing a man being tied to an army jeep in the front and being used as shield on April 9 against those throwing stones at military men and vehicles. The video has caused outrage forcing the police to investigate and thereafter file an FIR. Video showing Army using civilian as 'Human Shield' had gone viral. A soldier can be heard saying, "This will be the fate of people who throw stones. A police officer quoted by newagency PTI said the FIR has been registered under sections 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 367 (kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt) of the Ranbir Penal Code. The man in question was identified as Farooq Ahmed Dar and according to him is a tailor by profession and does shawl artistry. He denied the charges of him being a stone-pelter. Narrating the ordeal, Dar said he was picked up when he was on way to his sister's house, where bereavement had occurred, after casting his vote. He said that local women made attempts to help him but police didn’t let them come to close to the moving vehicle.  “On my chest, a white paper was tucked under the rope. I could only see my name written on it,” he added. Dar claimed he was made to travel around 10-12 villages on the jeep. The incident came immediately after an assault on CRPF personnel during bypoll to the Srinagar parliamentary seat on April 9. CRPF personnel maintaining restraint after being attacked by unscrupulous men in Srinagar. The video of the attack by locals Kashmiri had also evoked widespread anger and condemnation.  There was no retaliation by the security personnel, who quietly walked to their camp while being kicked, slapped and verbally abused. Five persons have been arrested for carrying out the attack.