India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has demanded an independent judicial probe into the recent civilian deaths in “encounters” in Kashmir and the arrest of an internationally acclaimed human rights activist Pervez Khurram by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Protest erupted in Srinagar recently after the murder of Dr. Mudasir Gul, a dentist, and Altaf Bhat, a businessman.
While police claim that they were killed in an encounter, families maintain that it was a cold-blooded murder. The families also reject the police claim that the slain persons were Over Ground Workers (OGW) and helped militants and terrorists with logistical support, cash and shelter.
Family members and close relatives of the slain doctor and businessman had staged a dharna in Srinagar when police did not hand over the bodies. Police then exhumed their bodies and gave them to the families for last rites.
JIH president Syed Sadatullah Husaini, in a statement, said, “We are extremely concerned after reading the recent reports of civilian deaths in encounters in Kashmir. We are also disturbed to know that the families of those killed had to face great difficulties and delays in getting their bodies.”
He said that the arrest of a prominent human rights activist by the NIA was also quite disturbing.
“Terming civilians caught in the cross-fire, as part of the Over Ground Worker (OGW) network, does not add to the credibility of the police, which is not exactly very high in the eyes of the general public,” said the JIH leader.
“We support the demand of independent judicial probe into the encounter that resulted in the death of civilians, and justice should be done accordingly,” Mr. Husaini said.
“The perception that exists in the minds of the Kashmiris that the government is trying to shield the guilty officials and soldiers, and not ready to take any action against them, will be further strengthened if such incidents keep occurring without any action by the government,” the JIH leader said.
He said that the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved by talks, consultation, and dialogue with the people of the state and their representatives.
“Upholding democratic values and democratic institutions seems to be on the decline, and it needs to be revived and strengthened,” the statement said, reminding the government of its promise and responsibility “to restore statehood and conduct elections at the earliest”.
