Amid an outrage in Indian-held Kashmir, the Indian army admitted today that a 32-year-old school teacher was beaten to death by its soldiers during overnight raids at a village and called it “absolutely unjustified and unacceptable”
“These raids are not sanctioned at any level. Let me tell you what happened when one person was killed in the beating by army persons. It’s unjustified. Nobody can support this. And there’s absolutely no sanction for these actions,” Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda said on Friday.
He said an inquiry has been ordered into the incident that took place during the intervening night of August 17 and 18 in Khrew area of Pulwama district.
Read more: Lecturer killed, 18 others injured in clashes with security forces in IHK
Shabir Ahmad Mangoo, who taught at a government school, was killed when he and several others were thrashed on Wednesday night at Khrew, 40 km from Srinagar.
His family alleges that the army searched the house to house for protesters and beat Shabir mercilessly.
The death has led to fresh protests in IHK, which has seen clashes in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.
They handed over Ahmed’s body to his family early Thursday, the villagers said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisals.
Large protests against Indian rule in Kashmir and violent clashes with police and paramilitary soldiers have occurred daily since Indian troops killed a popular rebel leader nearly six weeks ago.
A strict curfew and a series of communications blackouts have failed to stop the protests, even as residents have struggled to cope with shortages of food, medicine and other necessities.
As protesting crowds have grown sometimes to tens of thousands, the protesters have resorted to pelting soldiers, and police with rocks and government forces have responded with bullets and shotgun pellets.
More than 70 civilians have died and thousands have been injured.
Police and soldiers have been accused of ransacking houses and beating residents to intimidate Kashmiri protesters.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed in its entirety by both. Most Kashmiris are Muslim and want an end to rule by Hindu-majority India, instead favouring independence or a merger with Pakistan.
Read more: Strict curfew, restrictions continue in IHK
