families await justice for past 5 years

Bungergund families await justice for past 5 years

Srinagar July 23:

On July 24, 2005, festivity in Bungergund village of frontier Kupwara was turned into mourning, when army killed three teenaged youth were killed in army firing during the intervening July 23- 24.

Five years have passed since the killing of teenaged boys, the bereaved families are still awaiting justice.

Shabir Ahmad, 15, son of Ghulam Hassan Shah, Wasim Ahmad, 12, son of Mohammad Sultan Wani, Bilal Ahmad, 15, son of Abdul Khaliq Sheikh were shot dead by Army’s 6 Rashtriya Rifles in Bangergund village in Trehgam Kupwara.

Manzoor Ahmad, son of Ahmad Shah, brother of the groom survived miraculously in the shoot out. Two days after the killings, the then Corps Commander, 15 Corps, Lt Gen S S Dhillon in a media briefing regretted the killing and assured stern punishment for the guilty Army men.

Corps Commander, 15 Corps had said that he shared grief of the affected families and anger of people against the Army.

The killings violent protests across the valley and the the then chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Syed ordered a probe. However, five years down the line, justice remains elusive for the families of the slain teenagers.

The blood spill over is still fresh in the heart and minds of Bangergund residents, who await justice for past years. “The village wore a festive look. Drum beaters surcharged the atmosphere as women sung the traditional marriage songs to entertain the guests. Suddenly the festivity was truned into mourning due to the killings,” recalls, father of 12 -year-old Waseem who was killed in firing.

Another villager recalled, “On the fateful day, we went to the Villgam camp and offered sweets to the Army men. Few hours later, they showered bullets on our children. They turned celebrations into mourning,”

Locals rued that authorities assured them of taking stern action against the guilty but five years have passed the killers are still roaming scot-free.