Rights panel directs Rs 10 lakh compensation to Kashmiri man used as human shield

The Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Monday asked the state government to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to a man who was tied to the front of an army jeep as human shield against stone pelters.

In a judgment announced on Monday, Justice (retired) Bilal Nazki, chairman of SHRC directed the state government to provide the compensation money to Farooq Ahmad Dar, who was used as a human shield by an Army Major, in Beerwah area of central Kashmir during the Lok Sabha by-poll for Srinagar-Badgam seat on April 9.

Nazki directed the state govern ment to compensate Dar, for endangering the victim's dignity as well as his life.

The SHRC has, however, not made any directions to the army in this specific case because sources inside the rights commission said the J&K SHRC has no jurisdiction over the army.

There was a huge outcry, cutting across political loyalties in Kashmir and elsewhere, when a video of the incident went viral.

The army has defended the officer saying that the decision taken by him at the fraught time showed presence of mind as it helped avoid civilian and army casualties.

--IANS

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