Govt. assurance on missing youth

By Our Special Correspondent

JAMMU, FEB. 26. The number of missing people, from the custody of security forces and police, has gone upto 2,174 in Jammu and Kashmir.

And out of the 76 cases registered, only one has been challaned so far.

Raising the issue during zero hour in the Assembly, the CPI (M) member, Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, said the Government should inform the House what had been done in this regard. Thousands of youth were missing after being arrested by the security forces.

Recently, a youth from Rajouri, studying in the Jammu University, was reported missing. The Government should not try to defend the culprits.

The PWD Minister, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar, refuted the statement saying the Government had shown utmost concern over the disappearances.

In the Soura triple-murder case, it had taken action against the guilty policemen. Similarly in Anantnag, the SSP was suspended. ``I want to clarify that the Government will not spare any official who is involved in human rights violation.''

It was the National Conference Government which had set up the State Human Rights Commission and whenever there was a complaint, the Government responded to it.

There were also instances of youth having gone across the border to get training in arms but there was no definite information.

Earlier, in a written reply, the Home Minister said 2,174 cases of missing people were reported so far. While cases had been registered in 76 instances, one case had been challaned in the court. Twenty-three cases had been closed as untraced and seven were being processed for prosecution and the rest were under investigation. Eighty-three cases were pending before the SHRC.

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