Rights violations in Kashmir alleged

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 3. A fact-finding team, comprising activists from civil, democratic and human rights organisations, has come out with a damning report on rights violations in the Kashmir Valley and Doda district of Jammu during the ceasefire. The team has accused the armed forces of extra- judicial killings, molestation, harassment of civilians and several other offences.

The team consisted of 11 activists, representing the Peoples' Union for Democratic Rights, Organisation for Protection of Democratic Rights and Human Rights Forum of Andhra Pradesh, Peoples' Democratic Forum, Karnataka, and the Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee.

Addressing a joint press conference while releasing the report to the media here today, the team representatives expressed ``shock and disgust'' at the attitude and operations of the civil administration, the State Police - particularly the Special Operations Group or the Special Task Force - and the armed forces.

The team investigated about a dozen cases of custodial killing, `revenge' killing, police firing, rape, torture in camps of Pulwama, Srinagar, Badgam and Baramulla districts, besides the towns of Sopore and Srinagar. It also claimed that the victims, who had shared their experience with the members, were being harassed.

Citing specific instances, the report said that custodial killings were explained as ``an encounter with armed militants despite the presence of eye-witnesses to testify that the victims were taken into custody prior to the killing.''

The team felt that many police acts were unjustified and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was often misused. The Army had resorted to ``well-publicised action'' only in a few cases.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Musharraf visit will not solve Kashmir issue:
           Mulayam
Next     : Breach Candy Hospital ready for PM's arrival