In the killing of a mentally ill man in J&K, a familiar disturbing trend

At least 15 deaths in as many years; homeless, hapless especially vulnerable in the conflict zone.

6 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Feb 22, 2018 10:24 AM IST

ceasefire violation, jammu and kashmir, Srinagar, LoC, Loc village, India news, indian express news

On Sunday night, a sentry at an Air Force station on the outskirts of Srinagar shot and killed a 65-year-old man who had crossed the security fence. (Express photo)

Late Sunday night, a sentry at an Air Force station on the outskirts of Srinagar shot and killed a 65-year-old man who had crossed the security fence and come very close to the perimeter wall of the station. J&K Police said the man was fired upon after he ignored repeated warnings, including warning shots in the air. The man was barefoot, wore no winter clothes, and carried no ID card. He was identified as Syed Habibullah, a mentally ill man from Soibug, Budgam.

“He had come very close to the perimeter wall of the Air Force station. They (the sentries) shouted and shouted, asking him to stand still. But he kept moving. There is a video, too. The sentry got a bit nervous and opened fire,” I-G (Kashmir Zone) S P Pani said on Wednesday. “It is unfortunate. We have asked every district to make a list of homeless people. They are mostly mentally unwell. As there are no shelters, they just roam around. “We have repeatedly issued advisories asking people not to venture close to camps. For a sentry, it is difficult to guess their intentions. Only yesterday, two men on a motorcycle rode close to a security vehicle outside the Koel (Air Force) camp (in South Kashmir) and threw a grenade,” Pani said.

The Valley’s top psychiatrist, Dr Arshad Hussain, estimated that perhaps 70% of mentally ill people were cared for by families, but there were still many who were mentally ill and homeless. “Though the mentally ill are vulnerable across the world, it is worse in a conflict zone,” Dr Hussain said. “We don’t have halfway homes and rehabilitation homes anywhere in Kashmir. This infrastructure is essential.” This, he said, was despite a team monitored by the Supreme Court having recommended the setting up of such homes.

Social Welfare Minister Sajjad Lone told The Indian Express that the government planned to bring an ordinance to help mentally challenged people. “In fact, the Finance Ministry has already pledged funds to set up a home (for the mentally challenged). We are fast tracking,” Lone said. Khurram Parvez, coordinator of the Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a major human rights group based in Srinagar, however, said “the way mentally challenged people are shot dead can’t be reduced to a coincidence”.

The problem in Kashmir, according to him, is that “draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) allow security forces to shoot at anybody merely on the basis of a suspicion”. And because “the government promises probes but nobody is ever held responsible, there is no accountability”. Even before the February 19 killing of the 65-year-old, the JKCCS had documented 15 alleged killings of mentally ill people in J&K between 2003 and 2011. The circumstances of most of these deaths were similar, according to the JKCCS’s records.

March 16, 2003: Security forces allegedly killed a woman who was roaming around their camp in Nowgam, Banihal. Her identity was not established, but it was confirmed that she was mentally unwell.

September 5, 2003: An unidentified, mentally challenged boy was shot, allegedly by paramilitary forces, in the Abi Guzar area of Srinagar.

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February 20, 2004: Gul Mohammad Bhat (22) of Chattru, Kishtwar, who had been born with a mental illness and could not properly comprehend or communicate, was shot and killed as he was walking towards his home at night. Security forces initially claimed he was a militant, but in the face of an outcry, said it was a case of mistaken identity.

March 1, 2004: A mentally challenged woman, Shameema Begum, was killed during an encounter in Banihal.

April 13, 2004: Security forces allegedly killed Nazir Ahmad Chaku, a mentally challenged man from Anantnag.

August 10, 2004: Mentally challenged Ghulam Hassan Chopan of Zainpora, Shopian, was finally buried after the government ordered a magisterial inquiry into his killing. Chopan was allegedly shot by troops in an orchard on August 8. Villagers said he was trying to run away from the security forces personnel who were calling him; the security forces claimed Chopan was killed in an encounter. The outcome of the inquiry has not been made public.

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December 25, 2004: The BSF allegedly shot dead mentally ill Shamshad Ahmad Ganai in Tral.

June 24, 2005: Army expressed regret after shooting dead a mentally ill person at Ganwan Kangan, Ganderbal.

May 13, 2006: Army killed mentally challenged Muhammad Abdullah Sheikh on May 12-13 night. There were protests in Kunanposhpora, Kupwara. Army said the death was “highly unfortunate”, a case of “mistaken identity”.

July 16, 2006: Mentally ill Mohammad Abdullah Wani of Braripora, Handwara, was shot dead in what security forces termed a “case of mistaken identity”.

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October 26, 2007: Akeel Ahmed Mir, a mentally challenged boy, was shot after he allegedly tried to enter a security forces camp at Watlab, Sopore, in the wee hours.

April 11, 2008: Mentally ill Shakeel Ahmad Malik (24) of Boniyar, Uri, was killed as he tried to sneak into an Army camp. Army termed the incident as “unfortunate”.

January 6, 2009: Army shot deaf and mute Abdul Rashid Reshi on the high-security Gupkar Road in Srinagar. Police said he had crossed the main gate of the Commander 31 Sub Area’s residence.

January 5, 2011: An unidentified, mentally unsound man was shot dead in Lolab, Kupwara, late in the evening after, according to police, he “didn’t stop despite repeated warnings” from security forces.

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August 7, 2011: Army and police claimed to have killed top Lashkar commander Abu Usman in Surankote in a gunbattle, but it emerged that a mentally challenged Hindu youth had been killed in a fake encounter.

Muzamil Jaleel

Muzamil Jaleel is a Deputy Editor at The Indian Express and is widely recognized as one of India’s most authoritative voices on Jammu & Kashmir, national security, and internal affairs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has provided definitive on-the-ground reportage from the heart of the Kashmir conflict, bearing witness to historic political transitions and constitutional shifts. Expertise and Investigative Depth Muzamil’s work is characterized by a rare combination of ground-level immersion and high-level constitutional analysis. His expertise includes: Conflict & Geopolitics: Decades of reporting on the evolution of the Kashmir conflict, the Indo-Pak peace process, and the socio-political dynamics of the Himalayan region. Constitutional Law: Deep-dive analysis of Article 370 and Article 35A, providing clarity on the legal and demographic implications of their abrogation in 2019. Human Rights & Accountability: A relentless investigator of state and non-state actors, uncovering systemic abuses including fake encounters and the custodial death of political workers. International War Reporting: Beyond South Asia, he provided on-the-spot coverage of the final, decisive phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Landmark Exposés & Impact Muzamil’s reporting has repeatedly forced institutional accountability and shaped national discourse: The Kashmir Sex Scandal (2006): His investigative series exposed a high-profile exploitation nexus involving top politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers, leading to the sacking and arrest of several senior officials. Fake Encounters: His reports blew the lid off cases where innocent civilians were passed off as "foreign terrorists" by security forces for gallantry awards. SIMI Investigations: He conducted a massive deep-dive into the arrests of SIMI members, using public records to show how innocuous religious gatherings were often labeled as incriminating activities by investigative agencies. The Amarnath Land Row: Provided critical context to the 2008 agitation that polarized the region and altered its political trajectory. Over the years, Muzamil has also covered 2002 Gujarat riots, Bhuj earthquake, assembly elections in Bihar for Indian Express. He has also reported the peace process in Northern Ireland, war in Sri Lanka and national elections in Pakistan for the paper. Awards and Fellowships His "Journalism of Courage" has been honored with the industry's most prestigious accolades: Four Ramnath Goenka Awards: Recognized for J&K Reportage (2007), On-the-Spot Reporting (2009), and Reporting on Politics and Government (2012, 2017). Kurt Schork Award: From Columbia University for international journalism. Sanskriti Award: For excellence in Indian journalism and literature. IFJ Tolerance Prize: For his empathetic and nuanced reporting in South Asia. International Fellowships: Served as a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and worked with The Guardian, The Observer, and The Times in London. He has also received Chevening fellowship and a fellowship at the Institute of Social Studies, Hague, Netherlands. Professional Presence Current Location: New Delhi (formerly Bureau Chief, Srinagar). Education: Master’s in Journalism from Kashmir University. Social Media: Follow him for field insights and rigorous analysis on X (Twitter) @MuzamilJALEEL. ... Read More