Army orders investigation into video showing youth tied to jeep

A day after a video surfaced on social media showing a Kashmiri youth tied to an army jeep as a human shield against stone pelting, Army on Friday said it has started an investigation into the incident.

The amateur video, first shared by the spokesperson of Opposition National Conference, shows a young strapped to the front of a jeep being driven as part of a convoy by the Army in Gundipora, Beerwah in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

The Army on its part said that it will investigate the matter before reaching to any conclusion. “In reference to the video showing a young man tied to an army jeep, the contents of the video are being verified and investigated," a defence spokesman said.

According to unconfirmed reports a soldier is heard saying through a public address system, “Those who throw stones will meet the same fate.”

The video has triggered an outrage in the volatile Valley with people questioning the army’s tactics to take on the stone pelters. The NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a tweet said: “This young man was TIED to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking! (sic).”

The 11 seconds long video appeared just two days after a similar clip showing a paramilitary CRPF personnel being abused and assaulted during the bye-elections to the Srinagar parliamentary constituency on April 9.

Sohail Nasiti, a Kashmiri origin philanthropist based in England, while commenting on the two incidents, wrote on his facebook page: “Now the opportunism has started: Youth hitting CRPF/ Boy tied by the army to a Jeep. For God's sake when we will grow up and think like mature people. Do we have to live all our lives playing cat and dog. Have we forgotten the values of life?  Can't see blood spilling on a daily basis.”

Juanid Quershi son of 1971 Ganga plane hijacker Hashim Quershi, while reacting over the two incidents posted on his facebook: “Human shields are used by terrorists or Separatists. Terrorists use human shields (stone-pelters) to escape and Separatists use young children to be at the forefront while pelting stones during clashes in order to ensure that their shops remain open. (sic)”

“A State, especially a Democratic State, cannot and should not resort to tactics used by terrorists. I condemn the use of Human shields by the Indian Army. It is unethical, immoral and not state-worthy,” he said.

Meanwhile, State Police chief SP Vaid said they have registered an FIR on a complaint filed by the CRPF over a video clip showing some youths beating the CRPF personnel .“We have registered an FIR in police station Chadoora against the ruffians who heckled the CRPF personnel. They will be dealt with as per law,” he told reporters.

Vaid also said that they have registered FIR in case of another video which showed a security force personnel shooting directly in the head of a stone-pelting protester outside a polling station in same area. “A case has been registered in connection with that incident also. It is a matter of investigation and action will be taken against whoever is found guilty,” he added.