Tripathy, Sagar reject charges, say clip ‘doctored’ to ‘malign’ forces
Agencies
Srinagar, Sept 08: A three minute video clip purportedly showing some young Kashmiri boys being paraded naked by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police in Sopore town of North Kashmir has triggered outrage in the valley.
The clip titled ‘Indian Army repeating Abu Gharib in Kashmir’ is doing rounds on the popular social networking site, Facebook after it was uploaded by a user on the intervening night of September 6-7. The video shot with a mobile phone camera at an unknown location shows several alleged stone pelters being paraded naked by the troops and police through paddy fields. The video has been packaged with subtitles and background music.
In the clip, authenticity of which is yet to be established, CRPF men and police are hurling choicest abuses at the youth allegedly detained during clashes between protesters and the forces.
Mystery also shrouds the person operating the mobile camera. The place and the year the video has been shot are also unclear.
“I am daughter of an Indian army officer and I’m embarrassed and shocked,” comments, Avleen Gill, a graduate from Saint Bede’s college.
Asrar Nazir, a Kashmiri, writes that Aman Goth, the General in Hitler’s Army was hanged in public for parading Jews naked in a concentration camp in Poland. In India, he says, “democracy exists on papers only.”
“It’s a shocking and brutal act. Is this the democracy India is proud of?” he adds.
Noted human rights activist and program coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), Khurram Parvez said that such incidents were not new and have occurred in the last 20 years of conflict, especially in jails and interrogation camps where youth were subjected to severe physical torture.
“There is nothing new in the video clip. Stripping off the detainees, parading them naked and inserting wire in their private parts was a normal practice in jails and interrogation centers. The video has created a furore because it has been released in public domain,” Khurram said.
“Now we have to see how the civil society reacts to this revelation. We have to see if this clip pricks the conscience of Indian masses,” he adds.
“There is not even one percent truth in the video. It has been manipulated to malign the image of our men. I categorically deny its contents,” he added.
Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar raised question over the authenticity of the clip.
“I doubt the authenticity of the video clip. Forces cannot indulge in such immoral activities. However, if proven, stern action will be initiated,” Sagar said.(PBI)
