Jammu & Kashmir: During the Srinagar by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Human Rights Commission has taken a firm stand on the creation of human shield by a Kashmiri citizen. The Commission has instructed the state government to give a sum of Rs 10 lakh as damages to Farooq Ahmed Dar, who was tied with jeep. Significantly, the army and the government had supported and honored the Major, who made the Kashmiri youth human shield. The incident of Farooq Ahmed Dar being held by Jeep's bonnet for controlling stone pelters happened in April 9, 2017. On that day, voting was being held for the by-election on the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. Major Leetul Gogoi of 53 Rashtriya Rifles was leading his fellow soldiers in Badgam, 12 officers deployed for election duty, and five vehicles of the nine soldiers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and five police personnel of two policemen. The convoy was surrounded by stone pelters. Stones were thrown on security personnel. In order to save his convoy from the crowd, Major Gogoi used the Kashmiri youth from the protesters as a human shield tied him to the jeep bonnet.
Criticizing the video of the incident on social media, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had made a sharp comment. After the video was viral, Jammu and Kashmir Police filed an FIR in this case. Given the resentment of local people, the army had set up the Court of Inquiry against Major and other officers of the security forces. Court of Inquiry, after the investigation, had recommended no action against Major. Many senior Army officers appreciated Major's decision. Justifying the decision taken by the Major on the spot, it is a better way to deal with stone pelters.
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