Disclaimer: Image used in the report can be disturbing. Viewer discretion advised.
In the summer of 2016, a civilian going to cast his vote in Budgam was paraded by the Indian army, tied to the Bonet of a jeep and used as a human shield. The video which had gone viral on social media, had generated some criticism and a lot of apologia for the armed forces’ action.
In a dejavu moment, another image has brought back the memory. The image depicting the Indian armed forces dragging a dead militant has gone viral on social media ending a day of deadly gunfights in Sopore and Kakriyal, along the Jammu and Kashmir highway.
The gunfights saw three militants killed in Kakriyal and two ‘foreign militant operatives’ killed in Sopore, as per the army. The viral photo is reportedly from after the gunfight.
The image shows the armed forces dragging the dead body of a militant with ropes tied to his body. Another armed forces personal can be seen holding a camera in the background, while a member of the press from Republic TV is present in the picture.
ALSO READ: How using human shields in Kashmir underlines Delhi’s Tel Aviv tactic
The photo brought about a lot of criticism on one hand, and pro-army comments on the other hand.
Barbaric. This explains Indian army’s human rights conduct… pic.twitter.com/TTb5Ud3cp4
— Khurram Parvez (@KhurramParvez) September 13, 2018
Before dying, a terrorist will remove the pin of a grenade & supress the lever with his body, effectively booby trapping his own body. When dead body is moved, lever disengages & grenade goes off, killing security forces. This is why body is pulled with rope. It’s common sense. https://t.co/UEzs9QcX8L
— Major Gaurav Arya (@majorgauravarya) September 13, 2018
ALSO READ: Human Shield case: Indian Army chief showing ‘criminal leadership’, says Human Rights Watch
This is how Fake Human Right Activists/sympathizers of terrorists spread rumours about Indian Army.
Pic below is of a terrorist who was killed by Army today & Mr Khurram, this dead body is being dragged because terrorists keep grenade around their belt n that can cause explosion. https://t.co/pei6iBQF27— Maj Surendra Poonia,VSM (@MajorPoonia) September 13, 2018
Suggest quotes with this pic https://t.co/qmz26aCo4t
— तजिंदर पाल सिंह बग्गा (@TajinderBagga) September 13, 2018
ALSO READ: Kashmir ‘human shield’ depicted in a T-Shirt design goes viral
Excellent way of treating with Terrorists by Brave Bharatiya Army. Terrorists should be burnt after pouring Petrol because Terrorism has no Religion. https://t.co/fu9SYCATyO
— Prashant Patel Umrao (@ippatel) September 13, 2018
Picture is brutal and savage but more telling are the comments by common Indian citizens that appear below appreciating this as bravery and “right act” by soldiers – and this is where the real problem of Modi’s India towards Kashmir lies https://t.co/z5F7g8tej9
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) September 13, 2018
This is too painful. That it happens in the 21st century in a democracy makes it even worse. https://t.co/RgIno005YU
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) September 14, 2018
Earlier, a joint team of army’s 22RR, SOG and CRPF laid a siege in Sopore following specific information about the presence of some militants late last night. SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal said that the gunfight broke out after the hiding militants lobbed a grenade and opened fire on a search party.
The militants have been identified as Ali alias Athar, and Zia-ur-Rehman. Ali was previously known as having a hand behind the Sopore IED blast in which four policemen had been killed.
ALSO READ: Major Gogoi, who used civilian as human shield apprehended by cops with a girl from Srinagar Hotel
Three militants were killed in an ongoing gunfight between militants and armed forces after the second day of a massive search operation was launched in Jajjar Kotli area along Jammu and Kashmir highway.
Armed forces and militants were involved in a gunfight which broke out on Thursday after forces established contact with the suspects who had escaped earlier in the nearby woods.
This was after suspected militants travelling on a truck fired at a CRPF naka party in Jajjar Kotli area along the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Wednesday.
After a massive search operation had been launched by forces jointly, exchange of fire broke out.
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