Farooq Dar had voted before ending up as human shield

Jammu and Kashmir police have given Farooq Ahmad Dar — who was allegedly used as “human shield” by the army on April 9 — a big reason to smile after it confirmed that the 26 year old handcrafts artisan had cast his vote at his village before leaving for Gampora to offer condolence with the family of a dead relative.

Dar of Chill village was on his way to Gampora to offer condolence when he was picked up by troops of 53 Rashtriya Riffles (RR)  led by Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi in Beerwa-Budgam near Utligam and tied with the bonnet of a jeep before parading him in around dozens villages.

The issue snowballed into a major controversy after the video of Dar being tied on a bonnet of jeep became viral. While Major Gogoi defended his actions saying he saved lives and dubbed “Dar as ring leader who instigated the stone pelting mob”, the incident had sparked massive anger and outrage across Kashmir.

“During investigation it came to surface that victim Farooq Ahmad Dar has cast his vote at polling booth installed in his native village Chill. After casting vote he left along with Hilal Ahmad Magray for condolence to village Gampora”, said a police report submitted by the senior superintendent of police, Budgam to the Director General of Police Dr SP Vaid.

The report noted that the investigation of the instant case is going on and after obtaining reports from District Election office Budgam/ Company Commander 53 RR Camp Beerwah and analysing of video clips the investigation of the instant case will be concluded on its merits”, 

Police in its report also maintained that he was lifted by Army during stone pelting and was “tied to bonnet of the Army vehicle as human shield under threat.”