SRINAGAR: A video of a Kashmiri youth tied to the fender of an Army jeep as a “shield” sparked a major controversy even as Army sources maintained on Friday that the man was a stone-pelter and that the move facilitated safe passage of a five-vehicle convoy without a bullet being fired.

Man tied to army jeep as human shield against stone-pelting protesters

Protests from human rights groups and criticism from most political parties after the video went viral, however, saw the Army order a probe into what was purportedly an operation to “extricate” trapped security personnel.
Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah posted pictures and a video on Twitter along with a comment: “This young man was tied to the front of an Army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking!”

The haunting image was understood later after the ‘human shield’ came walking home from the army garrison in Arizal where he was beaten before being sent home. He has been identified as Farooq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Chill village. He said he was going to attend mourning in a neighbouring village when he was intercepted by the soldiers, tied to a jeep with ropes and driven to a number of village. He had a paper attached on his chest, the warning of which was not known.

In the latest surge of violence in India Occupied Kashmir, at least six people were killed and more than two dozen injured on April 9, when police clashed with protesters during a by-election in Srinagar in India Occupied Kashmir region.