Report unveils 214 HR abuse cases in IHK

ISLAMABAD: International Peoples' Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPTK) /Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) has released the report on as many as 214 cases of human rights violations by 500 perpetrators including Indian troops and police personnel in the territory.

The report on Perpetrators-Stories of Impunity in Indian occupied Kashmir was released at a press conference in Srinagar, said a press released issued by IPTK/APDP, KMS reported.

Out of 214 cases a list emerges of 500 individual perpetrators, which include 235 army personnel, 123 paramilitary personnel, 111 Police personnel and 31 India-backed militants/associates.

Among the perpetrators are two Major Generals and three Brigadiers of the Indian Army, besides nine Colonels, three Lieutenant Colonels, 78 Majors and 25 Captains.

Add to this, 37 senior officials of the federal Paramilitary forces, a recently retired Director General of the Police, as well as a serving Inspector General.

The official designations of the alleged perpetrators and the geographical spread of the crimes committed against the people of Jammu and Kashmir indicate a decisive will of the Indian State, carried out by its functionaries as part of a policy.

Cases presented in this report reveal that there is a policy not to genuinely investigate or prosecute the armed forces for human rights violations.

There is an occasional willingness to order compensatory relief, but not to bring the perpetrators to justice. On the contrary, perpetrators of crimes are awarded, rewarded and promoted by the authorities.

The role of the judiciary in a conflict zone is a vital and, often, the only hope available for ensuring justice. It must serve as an effective check on the executive and be vigilant in ensuring that human rights of individuals are not violated.

Despite the occasional passing of strong orders, this report contains numerous examples of the High Court effectively condoning the continuation of violations.

The report was prepared in over two years using information gleaned mostly from the official documents of the puppet administration in addition to witness testimonies in cases available with IPTK/APDP.

The report portrays the state of impunity prevalent in the occupied territory. Where identities of individual perpetrators of crimes are known it seeks a process of accountability for institutional criminality.

The official documents used range from police records, judicial and quasi-judicial records and Government documents. IPTK/APDP using the Right to Information legislations sought information on First Information Reports, High Court petition numbers and other documentation.

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