International Forum for Justice and Human Rights Tuesday released a report regarding Hawal massacre in which over 72 innocent civilians were killed by the Indian troops.Besides International Forum for Justice and Human Rights Chairman Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, Muslim Khawateen Markaz Chairperson Yasmeen Raja, Muslim Conference Chairman Shabir Ahmed Dar, Sajad Gul were present on the occasion.Before releasing the report, Untoo said that Government of India follows anti-Kashmir policies. He said India’s intentions and strategy are against the people and it has so far miserably failed to book the culprits involved in the killings of innocent people.The report quotes various witnesses and carries the Names and addresses of at least 52 persons gunned down by the troops on 21st of May 1991 in Hawal area of Srinagar city.The investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police into the Hawal massacre of May 21, 1990, as per report has stated that some militants fired upon the CRPF men and in retaliation the troops fired in self-defence. But the investigation wing of the Human Rights Commission nails the police version and says that a CRPF court of inquiry has identified 15 of its troops that had massacred more than 50 mourners without any provocation. However, no challan in the case has yet been produced in the court nor have the guilty CRPF men been held accountable for the massacre.
On 21 May 1990, renowned cleric Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq was killed by unknown gunmen at his Nigeen residence in Srinagar. As the news broke out, people rushed to Soura Institute of Medical Sciences to carry his body towards the Mirwaiz Manzil at Rajouri Kadal. When the procession reached Islamia College, the CRPF troops fired upon the mourners. The CID, that had submitted its report to the commission, has closed the case as ‘untraced’.As per the CID report, “curfew was imposed on the day and during curfew hours some unknown militants fired upon the CRPF men and in retaliation CRPF fired in self-defence in which some 35 civilians died on spot.” The report further reveals that the investigation of the case was entrusted to Crime Branch of police and during the course of investigation the case has been “closed as untraced as no clue was found”.But the investigation wing of the Human Rights Commission picked holes in the CID report and came up with a 12-page investigation report holding the CRPF troops of the 69 battalion who were stationed at the Islamia College responsible for killing of innocent civilians without any reason and justification. The troops were also held guilty by the court of inquiry constituted by the CRPF.According to the investigation wing of the commission, it is not known what action has been taken against the CRPF personnel and whether criminal proceedings have been conducted against them or not. The CRPF, however, didn’t cooperate with the commission.It is to mention here that the investigation wing of the commission conducted an inquiry into the massacre in 2014. The investigation came after a petition by the Chairman of International Forum for Justice and Human Rights, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo. (CNS)