Published On : Mon, Jul 10th, 2017

Human rights panel directs J&K govt to pay Rs 10 Lakh to ‘human shield’

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Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir human rights commission on Monday directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Farooq Ahmad Dar, who was used as a “human shield” by the army during the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll.

The compensation awarded to Dar was for the “humiliation, physical and psychiatric torture, stress, wrongful restraint and confinement” that he underwent when he was tied to the bonnet of an army vehicle to ward off stone pelters, the state human rights commission observed in its judgement.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Farooq Ahmad was subjected to torture and humiliation, besides (being) wrongly confined,” the judgement issued by SHRC chairperson Justice (retired) Bilal Nazki said.

He observed that the action led to trauma, resulting in psychiatric stress “which may remain with him for the rest of his life”.

“For the humiliation, physical and psychiatric torture, stress, wrongful restraint and confinement, the commission thinks it appropriate to direct the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim,” the SHRC said.

The commission directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to comply with the direction within six weeks.

The judgement is recommendatory in nature and would need the approval of the state government for implementation.