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Human rights watchdog rakes up AFSPA issue
Tuesday January 24, 2012 05:55:34 PM,
IANS
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Jammu: A global human
rights watch group has given teeth to Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah's now almost forgotten call - for repeal of
the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some parts of the
state.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said in its latest report:
"India has yet to repeal laws or change policies that allowed de
jure and de facto impunity for human rights violations, and has
failed to prosecute even known perpetrators of serious abuses."
'The World Report 2012: India', however, did not substantiate this
observation with any instances of alleged human rights abuse.
"The Indian defense establishment resisted attempts to repeal or
revise the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a law that
provides soldiers in 'disturbed' areas widespread police powers,"
said the report which was released Monday.
It has specifically written about Jammu and Kashmir and the
alleged disappearances which had caught the attention of human
rights groups and media in autumn last year.
"A police investigation in 2011 by the Jammu and Kashmir State
Human Rights Commission (SHRC) found 2,730 bodies dumped into
unmarked graves at 38 sites in north Kashmir. At least 574 were
identified as the bodies of local Kashmiris," it said.
It added that the state government promised a probe but the army
and paramilitary forces
have resisted fair investigations and prosecutions, claiming
immunity under AFSPA.
The Human Rights Watch had in the past come down heavily on
terrorists and security forces for perpetuating a cycle of
violence in Kashmir.
The watchdog says custodial killings, police abuses including
torture, and failure to implement policies to protect vulnerable
communities marred India's record in 2011.
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