New Delhi: J&K Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Farooq Ahmad Dar — the civilian who was used as a human shield by the Army to thwart stone-throwing protesters earlier this year.
Stating that “protection of life and liberty of a citizen is the basic responsibility of the state government”, the State Human Rights Commission the SHRC also didn’t rule on the role and culpability of the Army officer, citing “limited applicability of the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 to the state of Jammu and Kashmir”.
“The report of the police accepts that Farooq Ahmad Dar… was tied to the bonnet of a vehicle and used as human shield,” SHRC chairperson Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki said in his order.
“The protection of life and liberty of the people is the basic responsibility of the state government. I have no doubt in my mind that Farooq Ahmad Dar was subjected to torture and humiliation, besides being wrongly confined. The Commission thinks it appropriate to direct the state government to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim”.
Dar and his family declined to comment. Mohammad AhsanUntoo, a human rights activist who represented Dar at the SHRC, said they would approach the high court.
“It is good that SHRC has awarded compensation but it is not enough,” said Untoo. “We want action against the Army officer as well. We are not against a person, but the crime. We will move high court, and, if needed, Supreme Court as well,” he said.
Dar was tied to the bonnet of an Army vehicle and paraded through 19 villages in Budgam district, in central Kashmir, on April 9 — the day the bypoll for Srinagar parliamentary constituency was held. As the video of the incident went viral, the Army defended its officer, Major LeetulNitinGogoi. While the Army later ordered a probe into the incident, Army Chief General BipinRawat appreciated Gogoi’s act. In May, the officer was awarded a commendation card for counter-insurgency operations.
A week after the incident, a human rights activist approached the SHRC and sought action against the Army officials involved.