SHRC: The Salian Massacre Report

J&K the State Human Rights Commission, Camp Surankot, Poonch

Dated: 09-09-1998
Present: Hon’ble Justice G A Kuchhai- chairperson

Consequent to D.O letter from commissioner/ secretary home department J&K government dated 04-09-1998 to the address of u/s as chairperson State Human Rights Commission for spot visit to Sailan, Surankot for probe into the killing of 19 persons. I along with two staff members flew to the destination indicated in D.O.

In addition a complaint was presented on xxxx regarding the same matter. The complaint presented at surankot by the residents of Sailin village through xxxx Aftab Azad straight way in unambiguous words lay the xxxx on 9 paras, an army unit ticketing in the village, who are alleged to have run xxxxx on the day of occurrence, that is, 3/4th August, 1998 having committed the heinous crime by killing 19 innocent persons in a barbarous manner in association of Zakir’s associates, SPOs on getting provoked due to his killings by militants on the same day. Zakir as said was chief informer about militants to the army. The villagers have alleged jawans of 9 paras and associates of Zakir Hussain slain SPO had openly declared they will take a revenge by killing all near relatives of Imtiyaz, militant, who was suspected behind the killing of Zakir SPO. The complaint has been forwarded by the public to eight addresses including the defense minister of India, Sh George Fernandes.

On  reaching Surankot, Ponch at 9:30 am, I along with the district development commissioner, Mr M S Khan, SP (OPNS) Surankot, Mr Sewak Sing. Some other officials, near relatives of killed and some local residents of Surankot proceeded to the spot at Sailin, where killing had taken place. The commission had to foot the distance of more than xxxx Kms on a hilly path quite steep to the place of occurrence. The house of Hassan Muhammad deceased where the entire killings had take place was inspected though the near ones of the deceased people had mud plastered walls and floor of the house for religious ceremony “chehlum” of the deceased. The walls were exhibiting bullet holes.  The residents on spot exhibited a blanket which was bearing numerous bullet holes possibly bullets having being showered on some inmate who was intended to be killed, may be in sleeping state. Two metal utensils, one used for flour mixing were exhibited bearing bullet holes attempted by some deceased as a shield to protect themselves from rain of bullets. One dirty quilt drenched in blood was also shown on the spot. more