Indian troops responsible for grave HR abuses in Kashmir: HRW

Srinagar, April 08, 2008:

Indian troops and paramilitary forces in Kashmir continue to be responsible for grave human rights abuses during counter-insurgency operations, Human Rights Watch said Monday.

The HRW report said that India has also ignored recommendations by UN bodies on human rights.

In 1997 the UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern about legislation such as the draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Public Safety Act, and the National Security Act.

It also expressed concern that criminal or civil proceedings against troops and paramilitary forces, acting under special powers, were being commenced without permission from New Delhi, contributing to a climate of impunity and depriving people of a remedy.

Several treaty bodies, including CERD and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, have expressed concern about human rights violations by troops, including custodial deaths, rape, torture, and arbitrary detention.

The HRW report said that the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has reported on cases related to insurgencies in Kashmir.

"India has failed to address these concerns," the HRW reported.

An armed rebellion against Indian rule broke out in Indian administered Kashmir in 1989 and the rights groups here have been claiming that over 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict most of them at the hand of Indian troops and paramilitary forces.

Besides, around 10,000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearance, the claim denied by the government.

Read Amnesty's full report: http://www.amnesty.org.in

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