TRUST DEFICIT
THE WEEK India|January 07, 2024
Security forces need to win the confidence of tribals in the Pir Panjal region to stymie the rise of terror
TARIQ BHAT
TRUST DEFICIT

THE GUJJARS and Bakerwals of Kashmir’s Pir Panjal region are at the centre of attention yet again. On December 21, the People’s Anti-Fascist Front, allegedly a proxy of Jaish-e-Mohammad, attacked two Army vehicles, killing four soldiers and injuring three.

In the aftermath, security forces apprehended eight men from Topa Pir, one of the villages where the Gujjars and Bakerwals live. Though five of them were released after protests by villagers, three—Safeer Ahmed, 37, Muhammed Showkat, 26, and Shabir Ahmed, 30—were found dead the following day. A video showing the men being tortured, allegedly by soldiers, led to widespread outcry throughout the Pir Panjal region, which spans the districts of Rajouri and Poonch. The National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party condemned the alleged custodial killings, demanding justice for the deceased. The government was quick to impose restrictions, cut the internet and announce compensation and job offers for the families of the men. The Army initiated an inquiry into the incident and three officers, including a brigadier, were transferred. Army Chief General Manoj Pande met senior commanders and soldiers and asked them to conduct operations professionally.

The death of the three men has shaken their families. Safeer’s brother Noor Ahmed, a Border Security Force head constable posted in Rajasthan, said, “His neck was broken and they also gave him electric shock. His death has shattered our lives. Who will take care of his four children and widow now?”

This story is from the January 07, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 07, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEK INDIAView All
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
THE WEEK India

What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?

IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 08, 2024
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
THE WEEK India

Trump and the crisis of liberalism

Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 08, 2024
Men eye the woman's purse
THE WEEK India

Men eye the woman's purse

A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 08, 2024
When trees hold hands
THE WEEK India

When trees hold hands

A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges

time-read
3 mins  |
December 08, 2024
Ms Gee & Gen Z
THE WEEK India

Ms Gee & Gen Z

The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing

time-read
5 mins  |
December 08, 2024
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
THE WEEK India

Vikram Seth-a suitable man

Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 08, 2024
Superman bites the dust
THE WEEK India

Superman bites the dust

When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 08, 2024
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
THE WEEK India

OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port

time-read
4 mins  |
December 08, 2024
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE WEEK India

Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets

THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 08, 2024
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
THE WEEK India

Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay

AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 08, 2024