The Kharotabad incident, which resulted in the killing of five Chechens by the security forces, has become a case-study of paramilitary brutality, intimidation and cover-ups. Numerous reports over the past month have revealed the extent to which the security forces go to cover up their illegal actions and ineptness.
The immediate reports after the incident seemed clear enough. The media was awash with stories highlighting the heroic efforts of the FC and the police, which foiled a possible suicide attack on a checkpost on the National Highway in Balochistan. However, it did not take long for some contradictory reports to emerge. The release of a video made by a local journalist of the incident, which clearly showed the FC troops firing at fallen Chechens as one of the three women raised her hand repeatedly, started a nation-wide torrent of indignant condemnation and protests.
To its credit, the Balochistan government acted swiftly. Quetta's CCPO Dawood Junejo was removed from his office and a provincial level judicial tribunal was set up to investigate the matter. However, the statements of the eyewitnesses and those involved in the incident has left the nation wondering at the deceit they were fed initially.
The driver, Ata Mohammad, who had provided transport to the three women and two men had earlier claimed that the Chechens were armed. He has, since then, rescinded his story claiming that he was pressurised by the police to give that statement. The Quetta-based cameraperson Jamal Tarakai, who shot the incident on camera, has also claimed he was harassed and tortured allegedly by the police for releasing the tape to media. Even, the doctor who performed the post-mortem on the Chechens and confirmed that they had not died of a bomb blast but of multiple bullet wounds, was also beaten by unidentified persons. He also alleged his assailants were policemen.
Though none of allegations has been proven yet, the accusations made by the key figures of the investigation - the driver, the cameraperson and the doctor - read like an Orwellian plot out of a novel. Added to this, the statements given by SP (Investigation) Amanullah Kakar who was summoned by the judicial tribunal to identify the officer who ordered the fire, the troops who shot the Chechens and the voices heard on the videotape. SP Kakar informed the tribunal that he could not claim who had shot at the Chechens since his eyesight was weak. He also regretted that he couldn't identify the voices either since he was hard of hearing. When our respected police officers are unable to see or hear properly, shouldn't they be retired on medical grounds? Little wonder our security forces are in such shambolic state. However, the attitude of SP Kakar and that of SHO Kharotabad, who also "failed" to recognise voices on the tape, seems to demonstrate the old mindset which still dominates our security forces: protect your own and deny accountability.
Routinely we hear of incidents where the victims and their families accuse the security forces of unjustified cruelty, whether it is harassment, abduction, torture or even death. However, the voices are lost as days pass as yet another heinous incident grips the attention of media and public. Once the judicial tribunal and the Senate committee complete their investigations, the government must formulate a better mechanism for the training and accountability of security forces as well as ensure changes to ensure swift justice and compensation for the victims. Justice delivered is good, but crime prevented is much better.
Source: Business Recorder 17 June 2011
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