Handwara (Jammu and Kashmir): In the Kashmiri village of Handwara, everyone is
scared. The family of a candidate, assassinated by suspected militants is terrified,
while other residents live in fear of harassment by the security forces.
Behind two checkpoints and rice paddies lined with barbed wire, the family of Sheikh
Abdul Rehman are cut off and in mourning.
The 60-year-old was an independent Muslim candidate for state elections being held
in Indian Kashmir in four phases between September 16 and October 8.
Handwara goes to the polls on September 16.
Muslim rebels have threatened to disrupt the election and last week they struck near
the village.
Rehman was killed while travelling in a convoy, accompanied by nine guards assigned
by the government to ensure his safety.
"Five men in military uniforms armed with Kalashnikovs stopped the cars in the
middle of the road," said Rehman's son, 18-year-old Mohammed Ramzan.
"They made us get out, asked us to line up and fired immediately before escaping."
Since August 2, when the Indian government announced the dates of the elections, 21
political activists have been killed in Kashmir, including two candidates.
Rehman's family is furious both at the rebels and at the government.
"The rebels have made (death) threats to those taking part in the polls and the
government is unable to ensure the safety of the people," said the murdered
candidate’s angry son-in-law, Abdul Rashid Sheikh.
"We are terrified and people cannot take part in the elections freely."
Villagers are also afraid of "daily harassment" by the security forces.
"Every time the rebels carry out an attack, the Army takes its revenge on innocent
civilians," said Ahmed Farooq, 25, whose name has been changed for his safety.
Several people told AFP that shortly after the assassination, the Army rushed to
search and detain several residents and took them to one of their camps.
Altogether around 30 people were questioned.
Zahoor Ahmed said he was thrown from his cart to the ground and beaten in the middle
of the road.
"They asked where the militants came from, where they had gone to," said another.
The practice is normal, according to Firdous Asime, founder of Human Rights group,
the Institute of Kashmir Studies.
"Whenever there is any protest, security forces are particularly violent and
immediately cordon off the area and search and beat people."
Civilians are then taken away to a camp for an "identification period" which can
last up three days during which they are paraded in front of masked advisors.
"Young people who are bearded and well-built are particularly suspected. They are
beaten, sometimes tortured," Asime added.
Mustafa Tariq, 20, not his real name, was held for three days and tortured after
rebel shootings two weeks ago and still has scars on his arms.
"They hit me, burned me and gave me electric shocks. They asked me where the rebels
came from," he said.
