CPI(ML) condemns the custodial killing of three civilians belonging to the Bakarwal Gujjar community, who along with others were picked up by the Army after a militant ambush on an army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch on December 21. Mohammad Showkat, Safeer Hussain and Shabir Ahmad succumbed to injuries inflicted on them apparently through custodial torture. Five other detained civilians were hospitalized due to injuries. The Sarpanch of Topa Peer village and relatives have identified them in the alleged video of torture doing the rounds on social media. According to reports, including from the injured survivors the detained men were stripped, beaten and smeared with chilli powder on the wounds until they lost consciousness. Ironically those who have been subjected to custodial torture had worked as porters for the army.
The Army has ordered an investigation and the administration has announced compensation after the incident became public, but what is needed is an impartial and independent investigation to ensure justice. These killings have once again exposed the complete failure to deliver on any of the tall claims made by the BJP government at the time of revocation of Article 370.
