Lock Down In Srinagar, Victim’s Family Awaits Justice
By Dilnaz Boga
14 June, 2010
Countercurrents.org
If India had to mete out justice to all those wronged by the security forces in Kashmir, it would lose almost one-fourth of its forces to prison. In over 20 years, it has managed to rope in even the elite class, usually untouched by calamities or sadness that has seeped through its masses through human rights violations.
The family of Tufail Ahmad Matoo, the teenager who was slain in Gani Memorial Stadium, has been apolitical. But now they can no longer afford to be insulated. His father, Mohammed Ashraf, says, “India is a largest democracy, but what they are doing here. This is not good for them.”
This is not the first teenager to be killed on the streets of Srinagar this year. Here, unfortunately, draconian acts that have been put in place have managed to stamp out the expectation of justice, while protecting those who carry out cold-blooded murders in the name of national security and preventing terrorism.
On a day that the people of Srinagar planned to protest the cold-blooded killing of 17-year-old Tufail Ahmad Matoo, the security forces came down heavy and sealed the entire city, making movement for even journalists impossible. The only form of vent to this population that continues to deal with the insurmountable odds of living in a conflict zone, was conveniently plugged by the state; while local politicians are allowed to hold centre stage to express their divergent views, effortlessly capitalizing on the immeasurable discontent of the people.
While the local police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) stood stoic at all posts in the city, trying to control the situation, the family of the slain teenager still struggled to come to terms with his death.
The boy was allegedly killed by the J&K police on a playing field on Friday during a cricket match that was viewed by a few hundred spectators. Eyewitnesses said that not only did they see what happened but some even recorded it on their cell phones.
Two days later, the crime scene was unguarded. The blood on the football field stared at the ruthless sky. The area was not cordoned off for forensic investigation. The scene of crime was left wide open for contamination and a convenient loss of evidence.
A young life crushed senselessly in its prime. Tufail Ahmad matoo had even chosen a brand new car – an Alto – a red one. He never got to see it come home. And he never got to drive it. The family has lost the only male child in the family. The couple had prayed for a child after three miscarriages, whispered a shaken relative.
How many more dead children will it take to bring peace or justice to a population that has been ruthlessly mowed down upon for decades for bearing sentiments that refuse to align with the Indian state? Will it take bombs in buses in Bombay? What will it take to translate the might of the Indian state into justice and reconciliation? How can there be peace without justice? What explanation will suffice for parents of dead children who had nothing to do with militancy or politics? When will we change?
