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Kashmir Man Used As Human Shield Files Complaint With Human Rights Body, Calls Award To Major Gogoi 'Illegal'

Dar has also requested that three news channels be restrained from calling him a stone-pelter.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Farooq Ahmad Dar, the Kashmiri man who was used as a human shield by the army on 9 April during by elections in Srinagar, has now lodged a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) asking why Major Leetul Gogoi was given an award by the army.

A report in Firstpostalso said Dar has sought that three news channels - Republic TV, India Today and Times Now - be restrained from calling him a stone pelter.

Dar, an embroidery artisan was picked up on his way back from voting and was tied to an army jeep as a shield. Major Gogoi was honoured with the COAS commendation despite the fact that the act is considered a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

A probe into the issue is on.

The Firstpost report quoted the complaint as saying, "The complainant has learnt through the medium of local and national newspapers that Major Gogoi has been awarded for the said act, which is not only illegal but against the settled principles of international humanitarian law."

This comes even as Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has said that in a 'war-like' it is the army officers who must take decisions that suit the situation and that politicians couldn't dictate the army about such situations.

IANS had reported Jaitley as saying, "How a situation is to be dealt with when you are in a war-like zone... we should allow our army officers to take a decision. They don't have to consult Members of Parliament as to what they should do under these circumstances."

Meanwhile, Dar, in a heartbreaking message to Gogoi, had asked, "I want to ask only one thing, was I an animal that I was tied and exhibited."

Dar had also told The Telegraph that he was shattered and he did not expect any justice.

Dar is 26-years-old and a resident of the Chil village in Beerwah sub-district.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.