Srinagar, August 17, 2020 (PPI-OT): India has stopped investigation of over 10,500 cases of human rights violations against its troops in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have halted the investigation in thousands of cases involving human rights violations by the personnel of Indian army and paramilitary forces before the India’s illegal action of August 5, last year.
New Delhi had abolished the Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission on August 5, 2019, after it abrogated Article 370. While over 10,500 cases were lodged with the commission till August, last year; there were at least 2,500 to 2,600 cases which were being heard on daily basis, said Nazir Ahmad Thokar, the former Secretary of the Commission.
The forces in Kashmir have been involved in custodial killing, as well as, fake encounters. Human Rights groups have blamed Indian forces for custodial disappearances. “.… the entire civilian population is at risk of arbitrary detention, torture, even death,” noted one of the reports of Amnesty International.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, India has dismissed the complaints of human rights abuses including those who alleged torture at the hands of troops. “There are several fresh cases which have come to the fore in Jammu and Kashmir since the Commission was abolished, but there is no forum available for the people to approach now,” said former Commission member, Abdul Hamid Wani.
Human rights activist, Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, said that he had filed at least 500 cases that the commission was hearing before it was abolished. “I had filed over 41,000 cases before the Commission since it was constituted in 90s… ,” he added. However, most of the cases were dismissed without hearing. He said that the Commission had its own investigation wing and it “was hearing the cases on daily basis and also made officials accountable by issuing warrants against them.”
Officials said that New Delhi was unlikely to set up a separate commission in Jammu and Kashmir citing the Hindutva mind-set of the ruling BJP. Jammu and Kashmir Law Secretary Achal Sethi said that the department was awaiting orders from the government on the opening up of cases which were pending with the Commission. “We have not received any specific directions from the government over the issue,” he said.
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