Crippled musician%u2019s killers yet to be punished, courtesy AFSPA
Ist death anniversary ARIF SHAFI WANI
Srinagar, June 30: On this day last year paramilitary CRPF shot dead partially crippled musician Inayatullah Bhat, 30, at Munawarabad here without any provocation. Though police registered a murder case, it could not initiate proceedings against the accused troops who are protected by Armed Forces Special Powers Act (APSPA). And the family wants justice. On Innayat%u2019s death anniversary today, his family demands stern punishment to the accused saying nobody should be above law. %u201CThe troops killed my son because a day before he had dared to ask them Rs 15 they owned for the bread they had purchased from my shop,%u201D Innayat%u2019s father Rehmatullah Bhat, a baker told Greater Kashmir. %u201CThey were not performing their duty or fighting militants when they emptied magazines on my Innayat%u2019s chest. Even as a layman I can say with surety that the killing does not fall under the purview of any act of a civilized country. The accused misused their powers and committed the crime as individuals not soldiers. Thus, they must be punished, rather hanged,%u201D he said. Under the AFSPA of 1958, the soldiers enjoy %u201Cunrestricted and unaccounted power%u201D to carry out their operation in disturbed areas like Kashmir. By virtue of the act even a non-commissioned officer is authorized to shoot anyone on mere suspicion %u201Cin order to
