Why so much noise over video showing Kashmiri being tied to Army jeep? asks Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi

New Delhi: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Monday came in support of the Army amid the ongoing uproar over the video in which a youth is tied to the front of an Army jeep, as a shield to prevent stone-pelters.

The alleged incident happened in Beerwah, in Budgam, which saw rampant violence related to the April 9 by-poll, that left eight civilians dead in firing by security forces.

In the video, an Army personnel can be heard warning onlookers, "Those who pelt stones will meet the same fate."

The video had evoked widespread condemnation.

However, the government's chief legal advisor has asked why there is "so much noise" over the video.

Talking to NDTV, Rohatgi said: “The recent report about a stone pelter tied to an Army vehicle, it helped contain stone-pelters and saved the poll officials. Why so much noise.”

"Everyday people are dying. It's a surcharged atmosphere. The Army is dealing with terrorists, not with protestors, so they will have to be dealt with...everyone should look at the Army with pride, they are doing a great job."

The Attorney General hailed the Army for doing a great job under hostile conditions. “Sitting in AC rooms you can't criticise Army. Please put yourself in Army position," he added.

CNN-News18 quoted Rohatgi as saying: “It was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions.... If an Army major got away without hurting anybody, it's a great job.... There was nothing wrong, considering the circumstances. If it has to be done again, it should be done again. We are 100 percent backing the Army and the major."

The Attorney General, meanwhile, told India Today TV that "peculiar situations require peculiar measures".

 

"If you talk about this specific case (of a man being tied to a jeep) several hundred people surrounded the polling booth which had about twenty people. These were officials from Election Commission, J&K Police, and other security personnel. If hundreds of people surround a polling booth, God knows what will happen," said Rohatgi.

The man, who was seen tied to an Army jeep, has been identified as Farooq Dar.

Officials investigating the matter under instructions from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said Dar is a resident of Sitaharaan village in Khag tehsil of Budgam district in central Kashmir and the Army unit involved is 53 Rashtriya Rifles.

The video, which triggered a public outcry in the restive Kashmir valley, prompted the civil and Army authorities to launch separate investigations.