“Can money bring back my daughter who was killed in cold blood by Army? I don’t need any relief but eagerly want the Inquiry Officer to made his inquiry report public so that killers get exposed,” this was stated by Abdul Hamid Bhat whose daughter Shaista Bhat, a post graduate student was allegedly killed in Army firing earlier this year.District Administration Pulwama through a notification has declared exgratia relief in favour of Abdul Hamid Bhat.Pertinently, on 17 February this year, two students including a girl were killed and 15 other civilians injured when people were protesting against killing of a militant in an encounter with police and army.The forces according to locals had fired tear smoke shells and bullets on the protesters, killing a local boy on the spot. He was identified as Danish Farooq Mir son of Farooq Ahmad, resident of Ratnipora Pulwama. Danish was a student of B Tech in Islamic University of Science and Technology.
The forces also fired on protesters in nearby Lelhara killing a girl on the spot. She was identified as Shaishta Hameed daughter of Abdul Hameed, resident of Lelhara, KakaporaPulwama. She had completed her B Ed and was pursuing MA.“I want to know what happened to the Inquiry Report and why that was not made public. The government had appointed ADC Pulwama Shahbaz Mirza as Inquiry Officer. Twelve witnesses deposed before the Commission and exposed the role of Army in the killing of my daughter and another student. The Report was shelved and now monetary relief has been declared that is unacceptable to me. Neither we want a government job nor money but we want punishment to the killers who butchered two innocent souls,” Bhat told news agency CNS.I appeal to the government to omit the name of my daughter from the relief list as it hurts me more. I know those responsible for the murder of my daughter will not be punished but I will not sell her blood for few notes,” he said. (CNS)