Viral Sach: Was Kashmiri youth tied to an army jeep a stone-pelter or innocent?

According to army sources, Dar was a part of stone-pelting mob.

NEW DELHI: A video of a youth tied to the front of a moving army jeep as a shield against stone pelters has evoked anger and shock in Kashmir. The 26-year-old man has been identified as Farooq Ahmed Dar and according to him is a tailor by profession and does shawl artistry and has denied the charges of him being a stone-pelter. The video showed the thickset man sporting a beard strapped to the bonnet while seated on the stepney affixed to the bumper of the jeep The video, which triggered a public outcry in the restive Kashmir valley, prompted the civil and army authorities to launch separate investigations. Dar said he was picked up when he was on way to his sister's house, where a bereavement had occurred, after casting his vote. Watch the video to know more: He alleged he was picked up by an army contingent and tied with ropes to the front of the vehicle. Dar claimed he was moved around 10-12 villages at the head of the convoy, which included vehicles with security personnel and polling staff, before being let off. Dar also said that women in the village tried to come for his rescue but were shooed away by police after a shot was fired in the air.  “On my chest, a white paper was tucked under the rope. I could only see my name written on it,” he added. Dar, a Shawl artisan has refuted the charges that he is a stone pelter and know some carpentry. Sources in the army claimed Dar was picked up from a "trouble spot" and was tied up for barely 100 metres before being released. According to army sources, Dar was a part of stone-pelting mob. Army officials told a probe team that they had received a call from ITBP and local police guarding a polling station to save them from a mob which was out to lynch them. The army convoy rushed in from Kandipura and tied 36-year-old man Farooq Dar, who was a part of those protesting and pelting stones, to the army jeep. (With inputs from PTI)