‘Extra-judicial’ killings can alienate Gujjars in J&K from security forces: Intel

With the members of the nomadic Gujjar community being a crucial part of human intelligence in the high mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir, intelligence agencies have raised concern that a series of alleged extra-judicial killings of the members of the community in recent years could alienate them from security forces.

Nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals are often considered the eyes and ears of security forces, including Army and police, as they traverse in thick forest regions during their seasonal migration from high reaches to plains and vice-versa. During their migration, they often report sightings of terrorists to the nearby Army and police units. Many members of the community also serve in security forces.

The recent killing of a Gujjar youth identified as Mohammad Parvez (21) in police firing sent shockwaves among the community who demanded a probe into the incident. The police claimed that the youth died during cross-firing when they were chasing two drug-peddlers. However, the family of Parvez said that he was innocent and staged a protest. After that, two policemen were suspended and a magisterial probe was ordered into the incident.

A source in Army intelligence said that since security forces cannot be stationed on every inch in forest areas and higher reaches, nomadic Gujjars serve as the vital source of human intelligence by providing crucial information on the movement of anti-national elements in these regions. “However, due to setbacks following multiple reports of tortures and extra-judicial killings of the community members, we are facing a decline in information flow from remote areas. There is an urgent need to rebuild trust with the community,” the source said.

There have been cases in the past where security forces were able to eliminate Pakistani terrorists in forest areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar after receiving information from the members of the nomadic community. The Gujjar community is concentrated in Rajouri and Poonch district of Jammu region along with other parts of the UT.

The killing of three Gujjar youth in Poonch in December 2023 in Army custody had rattled the intelligence and security apparatus in J&K after which many senior Army officers were transferred from the area and a probe was ordered. The three members of the community, identified as Shabir Ahmed, Safeer Hussain and Mohammad Showket, were picked up from Topa Peer village in Bafliaz of Poonch and tortured. The video of alleged torture also went viral on social media, forcing the Army to take action. They were picked up for questioning after four soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in the area.

The Army holds regular camps in remote mountainous areas for the Gujjar community offering free medical check-ups and essential items like solar lights. These initiatives aim to strengthen ties with the community. It has been reliably learnt that police and Army have stepped up human intelligence in remote areas after multiple terror attacks in recent years.

In February, a 25-year-old Gujjar man, accused of involvement in militancy, allegedly died by suicide after reportedly being tortured by the police in Kathua district. The police and administration had ordered separate investigations into the incident.

A major incident that also communalised the atmosphere in Jammu region was the rape of a minor Gujjar girl in Rasana village of Kathua district in 2018 where some political parties tried to instigate two communities against each other over the crime, leading to a palpable sense of alienation among the Gujjars.