Major should face action not award, says perturbed PDP

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: As award to Army Major to who tied a Kashmiri youth to jeep becomes a nationwide discussion, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has strongly disapproved of the commendation and described the Army officer's action as violation of human rights.
Meanwhile, the Police have said that an FIR registered in the case still merits investigation regardless of the officer being awarded by the army. However, the man in question, Farooq Ahmed Dar, who was tied to the jeep, has said that the Police have yet to record his statement.
PDP general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat said honouring Gogoi was not proper as the act was a human rights violation. He said action should be taken against any human rights violation. "If he (officer) has been rewarded for this bravado, I do not feel this is proper," Bhat told reporters here. He was responding to a question about the Major being honoured yesterday with the Army chief's Commendation Card for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations.
"The stand of the PDP is that this seems wrong in public perception. This is a human rights violation and there should be an investigation," the PDP leader said. The first information report (FIR) had not been quashed, said Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Munir Khan "The investigation will be done and its result will be shared," Khan said. Once an FIR is lodged, the investigation has to be completed. FIR means the beginning of investigation, he added.
"Whatever comes out in the investigation is a separate matter, but investigation will take place and it will be seen what is right and what is wrong," he said.