Vivek Sharma
JAMMU: Eid festival in Kishtwar in 2013 terribly reminded of the grim picture that prevailed in Kashmir Valley of early 1990s. Having official patronage, a well organized group of people used every possible medium to spread hate and violence.
According to Justice R C Gandhi Commission Report, which has not been made public by the State Government for obvious reasons, despite BJP having a stint of 10 months in the dispensation, Imam of a local mosque Farooq Kitchloo made an announcement at 12:00 noon on mike instigating the people to target a particular community. Prior to that, at 10 AM, Naqabposh boys had appeared in the town raising anti anti-India slogans, Islamic slogans and also that ‘Jammu Kashmir Mein Rehna Hoga Allah Ho Akbar Kehna Hoga.’ And, within minutes the entire main bazaar was looted. Besides, setting ablaze the shops, a JCB was also (pressed into service) to demolish the shops. Substantiating that it was a pre-planned conspiracy, the Justice Gandhi Report explains that Naqabposh boys appeared in the bazaar at 10.00 AM sharp, which police ignored. These boys were roaming in the streets and Bazaar and atmosphere was such surcharged indicating that something is to happen there.
Quoting series of witnesses, the Report says, “Naqabposh boys roaming in the Bazar and streets raising anti-India slogans for Azadi and were having substances in their hands to burn the shops”.
The witnesses Majid Hussain, son of Gh. Hassan Bhat, Daniyal Farid, son of Fareed Ahmed, Nissar Ahmed, son of Abdul Rehman, Nissar Ahmed, son of Abdul Rehman, Muzzafar Hussain, son of Bashir Ahmed , Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, son of Ali Mohd. Ganai, Asgar Ali, son of Abdul Salam, Ashiq Hussain, son of Abdul Rashid had stated that while they were coming to their homes after Namaz prayers, 20-30 Naqabposh boys were roaming in the Bazar, telling to the people to go homes as a clash was going to happen there. They were roaming from Dak Bunglow Chowk to Bus Stand having lathis in their hands, states the Report, while elaborating that, “Rajinder Singh Shan, son of Prem Nath Shan had also stated similarly, adding that photographs of Shabir Shah, Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru contained in a poster were pasted on the walls in the city, in the intervening night of 7/8 August, 2013. The posters contained the writing that “by sitting silently freedom will not be achieved; rise to the occasion, do Jehad and get freedom”. Malik Mohd. Umar, an Advocate had stated that at 10.00 AM Naqabposh boys were roaming in
the Bazar which he saw from Malik Market. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, HQ, Farooq Qaiser had a round of the city in Jeep but he did not arrest them. The Naqabposh boys were roaming from Bus Stand to Bazaar and in Hidyal Chowk also, which he vividly noticed.
Raj Kumar, son of Duni Chand stated that he had gone to Bazaar for collecting Paneer for marriage party, in the morning, as the marriage of his relative was on the same day. He saw in the Bazaar boys with covered faces roaming with lathis and iron rods in their hands. Narinder Shan, son of Roshan Lal Shan stated that
the rioters used a JCB, which used to remain parked in front of Dak Bunglow, also for breaking the shops. Kousal Wazir, son of Mohan Lal Wazir stated that he was standing on the shop of his brother at Kuleed Chowk. The shop is known as “Bittu Tea Stall”. He saw that the processionists, who came from village Pui,
Huller and Sangrambhata were having petrol in milk pots. The Namazees were raising anti-India slogans, Islamic slogans and also ‘Jammu Kashmir Mein Rehna Hoga Allah Ho Akbar Kehna Hoga.’ “He saw that Varinder Singh, Police Constable was being beaten by the boys who were part of the procession and SSB soldiers saved him. When Kuleed Chowk was on fire, he rushed to his home and saw police and the Naqabposh boys roaming and standing at various places in the Bazaar”.
Quoting another set of witnesses, Justice Gandhi report further stated that Imam of Jama Masjid Farooq Kichloo incited the people according to the plan by making an announcement at about 12.00 Noon on mike from the Jama Masjid appealing the Muslims to target Kafirs and asking Muslim brothers to assemble in the mosque with whatever weapon they had in their homes. “He instigated the people for clash and arson”, the Report added This announcement (of the Imam) was heard by the witnesses Rayees Ahmed, son of Abdul Kabir, Klialid Hussain, son of Ghulam Rasool Shah, Imitiyaz Ahmed Mir, son of Ghulam Mohd. Mir, Ghulam Mustaffa Ganai, son of Aziz Mohd. Ganai, Arif Khurshid, son of Khurshid Ahmed, Khurshid Hussain, son of Ghulam Rasool Shah, Shahid Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohd, Rameej Ahmed, son of Ghulam Ahangar, Ghulam Nabi, son of Mohd. Ramzan, Majid Hussain, son of Ghulam Hussain Bhat, Amar Ahmed, son of Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohsin Sheikh, son of Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, Javed Ahmed son of Abdul Rehman, Arshad Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohd., Yasar Bakshi, son of Ghulam Nabi Bakshi, Firdosh Ahmed, son of Ghulam Haider, Zafar Hussain son of Ghulam Hassain Malik, Babar Hussain, son of Abdul Rashid, Fida Hussain son of Bashir Ahmed, Sewa Ram Wazir, son of Mathura Dass, Ashiq Hussain son of Abdul Rashid, Khurshid Ahmed, son of Ali Mohd. Ganai, Mushtaq Ahmed, son of Ghulam Rasool, Koushal Wazir, son of Mohan Lal Wazir, Nissar Ahmed, son of Abdul Rehman, Narinder Shan, son of Roshan Lal Shan, Hans Raj Buniyal, son of Laxmi Chand, Ram Sewak Sharma, son of Josh Ram Sharma, Raj Kumar, son of Duni Chand, Vijay Kumar, son of Hans Raj, Anil Parihar, son of Laxman Dass Parihar, Raj Kumar Badiyal, son of Mangat Ram Badiyal. Rajinder Singh, son of Prem Nath, says the Report.
The Report adds that though the Kuleed Chowk started burning by the Namazees at 10.30 AM but till then the Main Bazaar was intact. After the appeal of the Imam “the Muslim people got incited and the Naqabposh boys acted in accordance with the plan of conspiracy and started burning, looting the Bazaar”.
Zakir Hussain, Duty Magistrate of Area from Hidyal Chowk to T.B. Hospital and Chhaju Ram Parihar, Duty Magistrate of the Area Astan Pain to Astan Bala also stated that they heard the announcement made from Jama Masjid appealing the Muslim community that Kaffirs have attacked the Muslims and Muslim brothers should come along with their weapons to the mosque. Ranjeet Singh Rana, Duty Magistrate from Asian Pain to Astan Bala and Bashir Ahmed, Duty Magistrate also stated the same.
According to Justuce Gandhi Report, “SP SIT Shiv Kumar Singh Chauhan also stated that according to his investigation it has come out that at Noon before the burning of the main Bazar from Mehta Chowk to Wine shop, Bus stand to Amar Market, an appeal was made from the Jama Masjid, Kishtwar by the Imam or somebody else. The Bazaar was burnt after the appeal as the appeal of the Imam instigated the people and spread hatred.”