FEAR OF UNIFORMED MEN
By Hilal Ahmad and Peerzada Arshad

July 30, 2004 - (Greater Kashmir) Bihadijalan: The residents of this village claim that it is the last inhabited place in Kulgam area of South Kashmir. Nestled at the heels of Pir Panjal mountain ranges, this beautiful hamlet of nearly 225 families is without electricity, water, road, dispensary and many more basic amenities. The villagers demand none of these but the ‘deliverance from the mortal fear of the commandant and soldiers of Eagle Company of 9 RR’s Dhaneve camp.’

" His sight makes us cringe," villagers told about the commandant of the company.

"Some days before the killing of the two men of this village, another person of the village Farooq Ahmad Wani was made to carry a heavy stone on his head for several kilometres and as he fell at one place, he was dragged on the rough road to bus stand in Chimer village, several kilometres downhill. People coming out from mosque after Friday prayers intervened and got him released," the villagers said. The residents of Chimer testified.
The villagers alleged that they were not allowed to bury the body of an aged person Abdul Gani Lone, who died during a crackdown last year. " Even his son Muhammad Yasin Lone wasn’t allowed near his body. We buried him in the evening later," they said.

Bonded labour is rampant. " They make announcement from mosques and order whatever they wish to. This includes doing odd jobs in the camp, cutting walnut trees and shaping them into furniture items for them," the villagers alleged. The residents of Chimer corroborated the allegation.
Residents say they fail to understand why they are victimised when no firing incident has taken place for years. " Militants used to come regularly but they don’t come now. What is our sin," they said.

Pre-dawn and night prayers aren’t offered in the mosque, the villagers said. According to the villagers a group of troops calling themselves "Ghatak Party (Fatal Party) roam the villages harassing people. " Last month they tried to molest a Gujjar lady but no one dared to utter a word," recalled a villager.

"On the day of assembly elections, the commandant told us if you don’t vote today, I will make your life miserable for the rest 364 days," the villagers of Bihadijalan and Chimer said. Hundred percent ‘voting’ was recorded in the area. " We voted for PDP though we hadn’t seen any candidate before or after polls in the hope they would be better than their predecessors," the villagers said.

" Commandant says 15 sey 35 saal ke jawan merey bardaash key bahar hain ( I can’t bear youth of 15 to 35 years)," the villagers of Chimer said.
Residents of Dandwar, Kutmarg and Nannar made similar allegations about army units deployed in their areas.

No MLA, minister or top government official has visited the village for years. It was amply evident from the fact that widows of two men killed in the Lamar were called to Naib Tehsildar’s office even though they had buried their husbands only a day before.

At village Chimer Greater Kashmir’s vehicle was stopped by a group of villagers. They too complained about the atrocities faced by them at the hands of troops.

"This is for the first time that anyone from press has visited our village. No official visits here. About 200 people were waiting for you, we don’t believe it that someone has come to know the problems confronted by us. Who cares for us?," said a villager adding, " do us a favour and inform the men in power so that we may get some relief."

The demand of the villagers was that the troops stationed should be transferred at an earliest.

About the above mentioned allegations, Colonel Mukhtar Singh, defence PRO told Greater Kashmir, " the villagers are leveling allegations at the behest of somebody else. These allegations are not evidenced. Army doesn’t indulge in forced labour or threatening of civilians. Still, we would look into the allegations.

A spokesman of Victor Force, Rashtriya Rifle’s counter insurgency command for South Kashmir, said that the force has received no reports of such allegations. " I don’t hope such things are being done by the army. We will look into the allegations."

Additional District Magistrate when contacted said, " I came to know about the excesses today. I will talk to Divisional Commissioner."

From: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news3.htm