Two years ago a video clip of a youth being tied to the front of an army jeep and used as a human shield had drawn widespread criticism. On April 9, 2017 a team led by Major Leetul Gogoi tied Farooq Ahmed Dar to the bonnet of an army jeep to escape stone throwing in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
It was election day in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency and Farooq Ahmed Dar said he was on his way to cast his vote, braving the boycott call by separatist organisations. Eight people were killed in police firing on the day.
Investigations had rebuffed army’s claims that Dar was a stone-pelter. Investigation found he was on his way to his sister’s place for a condolence visit after voting when the army picked him up and beat him before tying him with ropes and parading him through nearly 28 villages.