KS Correspondent

Subversive elements in J&K Police have their own modus operandi in helping the terrorist movement. Some recent incidents throw light on how this subversion works and the depth of malaise in the state police. Some policemen were arrested recently, from Rajouri district. They not only helped the terrorists but themselves participated in the terrorist activities. The other incident relates to the alleged torturing of five Special Police Officer (SPOs) by policemen in Thathri area of district Doda.

The charges against SPOs were that they were assisting the Army in counter-insurgency operations in Doda area. One, SPO, Daya Krishan, whose private parts were badly burnt died immediately after being shifted to GMC Hospital, Jammu. The other victims are battling for their life at the hospitals in Doda and Jammu. One of the SPOs, Om Prakash, posted at Boylan in Thathri survives on dialysis, with his both kidneys damaged.

Investigations revealed that it was on March 8 that a police party headed by SGC Shoukat Ali, incharge police post Karara picked 5 SPOs--Om Prakash, Dayakrishan, also of Bolyan, Vipin Lal of Gurekra, Mohinder Singh of Dandian and Anyaar Singh of Kathwa from their homes in Thathri tehsil. Initially Shoukat Ali had taken SPO Abdul Rashid, SPO Satish Kumar and SPO Narinder Singh. On the way Shoukat Ali took along with him incharge police post, Deoki (Chirallah) namely Abdul Gafoor and three other SPOs Mohd Ayub, Zaffarullah, Tariq Hussain.

In a statement in the Assembly, Minister of State for Home, Mr MA Lone said SPOs Narinder Singh and Satish Kumar were taken by Shoukat Ali from police post Karara only for summoning the ‘suspects’ and at the time of torture were kept away. When Om Prakash’s family objected, Shoukat Ali told them that Om Prakash and others had looted the shop of Mohammed Ashraf of village Chirala of Rs 18000 worth of goods, on the intervening night of March 3 and 4. Shoukat said he was taking Om Prakash for the recovery of goods. Intriguingly in his complaint Mohd Ashraf had not named any person from among these SPOs.

Om Prakash said that picking them (SPOs) on the charge of theft was a well-planned move. He claimed that police records mentioned that the police had already arrested Uttam Singh, a shopkeeper and Nabant Singh, a farmer for the robbery. Om Prakash alleged that the due have also confessed to the crime. He added, "then how does the question of our involvement arise. Police should investigate the things properly. This can lead to the arrest of some more policemen in the area who are involved in militancy".

After picking up the SPOs, Shoukat and his men instead of taking the victims to the nearly police post, allegedly took them to village Gosti near Delana. The SPOs were then locked in one of the houses from March 8 to March 14. They were subjected to third-degree treatment with the intention of eliminating them. The District Police, as per MoS, Home has found prime facie evidence of victims having been sprinkled kerosene oil on their legs and private parts and lighted a fire. Recalling this episode, Om Prakash said, "at dawn, some of the policemen caught hold of us, while one of them burnt our private parts with a match stick". He added it was a routine for the next five days. "They sprinkled kerosene on the faces of two of us and then burnt us. Later, Shoukat and Gaffar peeled off the burnt skin with a plucker", Om Prakash alleged. He claimed that police would suck the blood of victims after inflicting wounds. When the victims begged mercy for release, the torturers would hurl abuses at them, saying, "call your Army jawans whom you help against Mujahideen (militants). A report in a leading national daily even accused policemen of engaging in cannibalistic activities against their victims.

The SPOs were working with Delta Force of RR, leading counter-insurgency operations in Doda and Pir Panjal ranges. SPOs are recruited by various wings of security forces to serve as local guides in counter-insurgency operations.

Two of the victims Anyaar Singh and Mohinder Singh were released by Shoukat Ali on March 13 in an injured condition after accepting bribe of Rs 8000 from Ratan Singh, brother of Mohinder Singh. When other SPOs did not return, Zafar Singh, father-in-law of Om Prakash, along with the family members of other SPOs went to the nearby 26 RR camp and told them the entire story. Army went to meet police officials and traced the captive SPOs at Gosti. It was at Army’s intervention that the SPOs were released. None of them was in a position to walk. They were brought on mules.

On March 15, the four victims were admitted in the local hospital at Doda and the two SPOs in PHC Thathri. Condition of SPO Daya Krishan deteriorated on March 17. He was shifted to GMC Jammu on March 18. His death created serious tension in Nagar, Chirallah. BJP leader Daya Krishan Kotwal’s personal interest in this incident has put pressure on the government. Six persons SGC Shoukat Ali, Abdul Razak, an ex-serviceman, Mohd Shafi, Chowkidaar, Mohd Ayub (SPO), Abdul Rashid (SPO), Zafar-Ullah and Khurshid were arrested and sent to joint Interrogation Centre. It remains to be seen what exemplary punishment is meted out to the accused in order to send a firm message to subversive moles in the police. Till the time of filing this report, the state government has been non-committal on granting compensation to the victims. However, the central government, Punjab and HP have donated Rs 2 lakh each, while Haryana government has agreed to pay Rs 5 lakh, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, BJP leader disclosed.