Protests in Bandipora district after alleged killing of a youth; Defence Minister A K Antony visits J&K; Defence Minister stresses upon reduction in the visibility of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir; Informer in the Bandipora killing hatched conspiracy
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    • According to reports, after death of a youth on July 24, 2012 night in Bandipora district, mourners alleged that Hilal Ahmed Dar was tortured to death by armed forces. Aloosa, the largest village of district Bandipora, is immersed in gloom and anger over the killing. Thousands of people from various parts of the district and outside visited the bereaved family amid protests and clashes in various localities. 1

    Meanwhile, reports noted that Defence Minister AK Antony was on a two day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from July 28, 2012. During the visit, he stressed for reduction in the visibility of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that there can be no justification for human rights violations. Revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) also figured during a brief one-to-one between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Defence Minister. The Defence Minister, according to sources, was all praise for J&K government. Defence Minister also expressed his satisfaction at the improved level of coordination among various security agencies in J&K, leading to significant reduction in infiltration from across the border in recent times. 2

    According to reports, Police said that two persons have been arrested in connection with the killing of Hilal Ahmed Dar. The prima facie evidence reveals that it was a “planned killing” and the matter is being investigated minutely. Initial Investigation has revealed that an Army informer Muhammad Ramzan Bhat of Aloosa got Hilal killed allegedly for monetary benefits and Police have recovered a weapon from the house of the another arrested person Nazir Ahmed. 3

    In other developments, reports noted that a government employee was killed and eight persons, mostly labourers, were injured in a powerful blast in the compound of a police station in Kathua district on July 23, 2012. During disposal of old blasting material by the Public Works Department (PWD) officials, a powerful explosion took place inside the compound of Bani police station near an under-construction building. 4

    According to reports, unidentified gunmen shot dead a man and a Sarpanch escaped a life bid in two separate incidents across the Valley. A police officer said that suspected militants opened fire on Muhammad Rafi Malla son of Ghulam Ahmad of Pahalpora in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. 5

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