I Was Paraded For Four Hours: Kashmiri Youth Tied to Army Jeep

A string of videos have surfaced after the riots of April 9, the day of the by-polls wherein violence erupted and stone pelters were seen in full swing. The first video was of a jawan, armed, being assaulted by the youth of Kashmir. The second video that surfaced was of a young Kashmiri tied to Army Jeep and paraded on the streets in Budgam.

These videos have not only rocked the Valley but the Country collectively. The human right activists, politicians and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti demanded the army for an explanation about the video. The Army has issued a statement on Friday, that they were examining the video and the circumstances surrounding the issue. The young man in the video was identified as Farooq Ahmed Dar, 26, of Budgam.

Dar, who works as a carpenter and a tailor, explained the incident to the media. Speaking to a news daily, he said that he was innocent and has never pelted stones in his life. When asked if he would lodge a complaint against the personnel that has tied him to the jeep, Dar said, “Gareeb log hain, kya karengey complain (We are poor people, what will we complain?). I live alone with my asthmatic mother who is 75 years old. I am scared. Anything can happen to me. I am not a stone pelter.”

Dar also said that he was paraded for four hours tied to the jeep and has suffered severe injuries. Dar also revealed that he was on his way to the funeral of a relative at Gampora, 17 km from Budgam when he was picked up and tied by the Army Jawans. He said that he was on a motorbike when he was picked up at Utligam by a couple of Jawans. Dar also said, “They beat me up, tied me to the front of the jeep, and paraded me across nine villages.” He added that “I was tied to the front of the jeep. On my chest, a white paper was tucked under the rope. I could only see my name written on it. On the way, soldiers were shouting to people, ‘come throw stones at one of your own’. People were running away. They were scared. I was told not to utter a word to anyone or they would shoot me.”
Dar also said that many onlookers requested for Dar’s release, but the Army did not do so. Allegedly, he was taken to the Rashtriya Rifles Camp in Raiyari and was released after a few hours.