SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Indian-controlled Kashmir rights panel -State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the local government to provide around 15,500 U.S. dollars compensation to Farooq Ahmad Dar, a local resident, who was used as human shield by troops in April this year, officials said Tuesday.
"I have no doubt in my mind that Farooq Ahmad Dar was subjected to torture and humiliation besides wrongly confined. It was medically also established that he didn't suffer only humiliation publicly but also suffered trauma which resulted in psychiatric stress which may remain with him for rest of his life," SHRC chairman Bilal Nazki said.
The commission directed the local government to pay the compensation to the victim within six weeks.
Dar, an embroidery artisan, was tied to bonnet of a jeep by an Indian army officer and used as a human shield in Utligam village Budgam during Indian elections for Srinagar parliamentary seat on April 9.
A video of the incident showed military jeep plying on road in Budgam district with a man tied to the front of it with ropes and an announcement on public address system in the background cautioning residents, "this will be the fate of stone pelters."
India's army action of using the civilian as human shied evoked sharp condemnation from rights groups and civil society members.
Indian army awarded the officer Major Leetul Gogoi responsible for tying Dar with a chief of army staff (COAS) commendation card, despite an inquiry pending against him in the case.
Doctors who examined Dar on the directions of SRHC diagnosed him with "acute stress disorder".
"The fact remains that the protection of life and liberty of the people is basic responsibility of the government even if it seeks assistance of central forces to deal with law and order situation," reads the judgement.
""The responsibility of state to protect its citizens and their rights can't be diluted or abdicated."
Dar earlier told media that he was not among the protesters or stone pelters and was picked by the army after he had cast vote in elections despite a huge boycott.
Meanwhile, an Indian federal minister Venkaiah Naidu said there was no question of giving compensation to people who pelt stones.
"Major Leetul Gogoi, who tied Dar to a jeep to ward off stone-pelters during the by-poll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in April this year, saved lives of election commission officials and police personnel, and the entire country appreciates that," Naidu told media.
"I do not agree with them (SHRC). Pelting stones is inhuman, hurting army personnel is also inhuman. I do not know how this order has been given."
A separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
