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Ikhwani camp shifted after 16 yrs

GK NEWS NETWORK August 24, 2009 Srinagar, Aug 23: The Ikhwani (pro-government gunmen) camp located near the Sadr police station on Nai Basti Road in the south Kashmir town of Islamabad has been vacated after 16 years following court orders. Established in early nineties with the eruption of militancy, a migrant house had been occupied by the pro-government gunmen for use at their camp. During the past 16 years, locals said, the camp was used as a Joint Interrogation Centre where civilians were subjected torture and, in several cases, even done to death. The camp was under the occupation of the pro-government gunmen, who were subsequently merged into the Territorial Army, but continued to operate from it. Locals said the Nai Basti camp was one of the three camps the pro-government gunmen had in the town. Another camp is located near the Khanabal bridge while the one in the Heewan Cinema houses the headquarters of the pro-government gunmen. Pertinently, Islamabad town was the bastion of Ikhtwanis (pro-government gunmen) after they started their activities in 1993. “During their heyday, hundreds of civilians were brought to the camps and subjected to physical and mental torture and even killed. For several years, they virtually ruled the area,” a resident, pleading anonymity, told Greater Kashmir. He said death warrants were also issued from the camp. However, a petition had been filed before the district and sessions judge, Sheikh Altaf, and following the court orders the camp has been shifted to army headquarters’ high ground where the pro-government gunmen will operate now.