SHRC Asks Govt Why Families Of Militants Being Attacked

Srinagar: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Friday directed the Commissioner Secretary Home Department, the Director General of Police, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, and the Inspector General of Police Kashmir to file a detailed report within four weeks to answer why houses of militants were ransacked and their families harassed by government forces.

The Commission headed by Justice Rtd Bilal Nazki passed the direction after a petition in this regard was moved by human rights activist Ahsan Untoo.

The petition sought directions from the Commission to prevent the ransacking of militants’ houses and harassment of their families.

The petition stated that the families of militants had the right to be protected from all exploitative and vulnerable situations but the government forces had adopted cruel methods to harass them.

The petition further stated that the security forces consistently vandalise the property and houses of militants and have even desecrated their graves particularly in south Kashmir villages.

The petition stated that instead of providing security to the community, the security forces were disturbing peace and provoking people.

“They (forces) are now using excessive physical force and intentionally destroying property,” the petition stated.

The petition said that the government has made the whole of Kashmir a concentration camp where murder, debauchery, rape, loot and desecration by security forces have become the norm.

The petition pleaded that security forces be directed to stop vandalism of houses of militants and to not harass their families.

While talking to KR petitioner Ahsan Untoo said, “Militants also have started abduction of family members of police personnel. The harassment by security personnel of militants’ families has led to this reaction. The families should not be made to suffer, neither of the militants nor of the police personnel. (KR)