At least 26 civilians killed branded as foreign ultras * 8 unidentified graves at Srinagar's Eidgah By Afsana Rashid SRINAGAR,
Feb 11: Is the phenomenon of killing civilians and branding them as foreign militants widely prevalent in the Valley? And
are there mass unidentified graves? Only statistics based on Valley wide verification of the same could throw some light.
But figures compiled, based mostly on known cases reported in the media during the last seventeen years, in a document issued
by families of missing persons at a press briefing here yesterday reflect that such cases are not really isolated ones.
According to compiled figures, there are at least 8 unknown graves at Eidgah graveyard here alone which is an indication
of the fact that an authentic survey of graveyards across the Valley may make startling revelations. Out of the 26 documented
cases of disappeared persons, killed and branded as foreign militants, whose bodies were exhumed from their graves, in at
least 19 of them, it has been established that the claimed foreign ultras were actually local civilians, brutally killed by
the security forces. The document released by some victims of missing persons at a press conference of Parents of Disappeared,
lists 26 cases, in which innocent civilians were killed, and passed off in official papers as foreign militants killed in
encounters. Out of these 26 cases, 19 have turned out to be civilians after the bodies were exhumed. In two cases, petition
for exhuming the bodies is pending in the Jammu and Kashmir State High Court. In four other cases, army has instituted court
martial proceedings to probe the allegations that the deceased were porters, from Jammu, working with the army and were killed
by the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Lolab-Kupwara, so that latter could get gallantry awards. The four victims, Bushan Kumar,
Satpal of Chatha, Ram Lal and Ashok Kumar disappeared on April 20, 2004 and were dubbed as militants. The incident of fake
encounter came into limelight on August 29, 2005, a year and four months after a soldier from the same unit revealed the story
in an anonymous letter written to the victim's parents in R.S Pura tehsil of Jammu district. In this connection, the statement
said, army was accused of killing its own officer, Major Kohli, who was allegedly threatening the perpetrators that he will
expose them. In another case, the Director General, Border Security Force (BSF) ordered an inquiry against commandant Narendra
Singh on the allegations of Subhan Rathore of 42 BN that a Kashmiri youth was killed by the commandant and labeled as Pakistani
militant. Singh, the statement added, had tried to win Presidential Gallantry Award.
The list of documented cases also includes the infamous fake encounter killings of Pathribal, a judicial probe report
in which is also gathering dust on the shelves of government departments. It may be recalled that the security force officials,
associated with 7 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) allegedly killed 5 persons in a fake encounter and dubbed them as foreign militants
responsible for killing 36 Sikhs at village Chattisinghpora in district Anantnag. Identified as Zahoor Ahmad Dalal of Mominabad,
Mohammad Yousuf Malik of Kokernag, Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Kapran-Dooru, Juma Khan (s/o Faqeer Khan) and Juma Khan s/o Sher Ali
Khan of Brari Angan, all five went missing after the Chattisinghpora encounter. The bodies on exhuming were found to be of
civilians. In another case, Aashiq Rasool Bhat a student and a resident of Ganderbal after his disappearance on March 13,
2000 allegedly killed in an encounter and 19 RR claimed that they have killed three foreigners in an encounter. His body was
later exhumed and identified as local, the statement said. Latief Ahmad Ganie resident of Machama, Beerwah-Budgam, disappeared
on September 24, 2001 and Bashir Ahmad Khan resident of Chaunti Mohallah-Bandipora disappeared on September 24, 2001. 33 RR
claimed that they have killed two foreign militants in an encounter at village Hari Ganwan-Kangan, the statement said and
added that bodies after exhuming were identified to be that of the locals. Syed Yaseen Shah and Mohammad Anwar Shah, residents
of Kupwara disappeared in March 2004. 18 RR at Lolab claimed to have killed foreign militants, identified as Abu Fazil and
Jaffar Ali. Later the bodies, after exhuming, were identified to be of the above mentioned local residents. On July 6,
2004, Ghulam Mohammad Naik and Abdul Rashid Kutay both residents of Bahbi Jahlan, Noorabad - Qazigund disappeared. 9 RR Dhanew
camp claimed that they killed foreign militants on July 23, 2004. Later they too after exhuming were identified as locals. Ghulam
Mohammad Chopan resident of Badgam-Doligam, Banihal disappeared on February 24, 2004. 14 RR in their FIR claimed that they
had killed a foreign militant of LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) on February 27, 2004. In March, 2004 body was exhumed on the directions
of District Magistrate Doda and the same was identified as that of a local.
Farooq Ahmad a resident of Kupwara disappeared on August 24, 2003. In his case, the statement said that 18 RR claimed
that they have killed a foreign militant, later the body was exhumed and identified as that of a local. The DNA test report,
however, is still awaited. The list issued also included the names of Abdul Rehman Padder from Larnoo-Kokernag, Showkat
Ahmad Kataria from Banihal, Ghulam Nabi Wani, Ali Mohammad Padder from Matigawran-Kokernag and Nazir Ahmad Deka from Daksum-
Kokernag, whose bodies were recently exhumed and identified as those of civilians. The petition of Abdul Hameed Badyari
and Shabir Ahmad Gasi, residents of Boatmen Colony, Bemina, who disappeared on 21 January, 2000 is pending in the High Court
for exhuming. The former, according to the statement, was arrested by the security forces and the latter by the Special Task
Force (STF) and both were subsequently killed at Waligham- Kupwara, Taharatpora. The document also mentions the phenomenon
of unidentified graves. Four of these belong to persons who lay buried under them since 1990. Two other unidentified graves
exist since last year and the date of other two graves is yet to be ascertained. The document mentions that four of these
graves have been identified. The statement revealed that the person laid to rest in grave number 27 in the graveyard was buried
on January 20, 1990; person laid to rest in grave number 100 was buried in the same graveyard on August 15, 1990, person laid
to rest in grave number 165 was buried on June 2, 1990 and person laid to rest in grave number 166 was buried on June 2nd
1990. Two more graves, one of which has been identified as one of a Pakistani national, exists in the graveyard since last
year. Quoting grave numbers, the statement said that person laid to rest in grave number 45 was buried in March 2006 and the
person laid to rest in grave number 456 (Pakistani) was buried in the month of February 2006. According to the statement,
antecedents of the people buried in grave numbers 600 and 656 in the same graveyard could not be ascertained.
Disclaimer: Information is being made available at this site purely as a measure of public facilitation.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information hosted on this website is accurate
CHAIRMAN: VED BHASIN Kashmir Times Group of Publications Edited, printed and published by Prabodh Jamwal
Editor-in-Chief, The Kashmir Times, Residency Road, Jammu, J&K, INDIA. Executive Editor: Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal E-Mail:
vbhasin@sancharnet.in, jmt_prabodh@sancharnet.in
Welcome to Kashmir Times
Online Edition | LATEST UPDATE
At least 26 civilians killed branded as foreign ultras * 8 unidentified graves at Srinagar's Eidgah By Afsana Rashid SRINAGAR,
Feb 11: Is the phenomenon of killing civilians and branding them as foreign militants widely prevalent in the Valley? And
are there mass unidentified graves? Only statistics based on Valley wide verification of the same could throw some light.
But figures compiled, based mostly on known cases reported in the media during the last seventeen years, in a document issued
by families of missing persons at a press briefing here yesterday reflect that such cases are not really isolated ones.
According to compiled figures, there are at least 8 unknown graves at Eidgah graveyard here alone which is an indication
of the fact that an authentic survey of graveyards across the Valley may make startling revelations. Out of the 26 documented
cases of disappeared persons, killed and branded as foreign militants, whose bodies were exhumed from their graves, in at
least 19 of them, it has been established that the claimed foreign ultras were actually local civilians, brutally killed by
the security forces. The document released by some victims of missing persons at a press conference of Parents of Disappeared,
lists 26 cases, in which innocent civilians were killed, and passed off in official papers as foreign militants killed in
encounters. Out of these 26 cases, 19 have turned out to be civilians after the bodies were exhumed. In two cases, petition
for exhuming the bodies is pending in the Jammu and Kashmir State High Court. In four other cases, army has instituted court
martial proceedings to probe the allegations that the deceased were porters, from Jammu, working with the army and were killed
by the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Lolab-Kupwara, so that latter could get gallantry awards. The four victims, Bushan Kumar,
Satpal of Chatha, Ram Lal and Ashok Kumar disappeared on April 20, 2004 and were dubbed as militants. The incident of fake
encounter came into limelight on August 29, 2005, a year and four months after a soldier from the same unit revealed the story
in an anonymous letter written to the victim's parents in R.S Pura tehsil of Jammu district. In this connection, the statement
said, army was accused of killing its own officer, Major Kohli, who was allegedly threatening the perpetrators that he will
expose them. In another case, the Director General, Border Security Force (BSF) ordered an inquiry against commandant Narendra
Singh on the allegations of Subhan Rathore of 42 BN that a Kashmiri youth was killed by the commandant and labeled as Pakistani
militant. Singh, the statement added, had tried to win Presidential Gallantry Award.
The list of documented cases also includes the infamous fake encounter killings of Pathribal, a judicial probe report
in which is also gathering dust on the shelves of government departments. It may be recalled that the security force officials,
associated with 7 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) allegedly killed 5 persons in a fake encounter and dubbed them as foreign militants
responsible for killing 36 Sikhs at village Chattisinghpora in district Anantnag. Identified as Zahoor Ahmad Dalal of Mominabad,
Mohammad Yousuf Malik of Kokernag, Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Kapran-Dooru, Juma Khan (s/o Faqeer Khan) and Juma Khan s/o Sher Ali
Khan of Brari Angan, all five went missing after the Chattisinghpora encounter. The bodies on exhuming were found to be of
civilians. In another case, Aashiq Rasool Bhat a student and a resident of Ganderbal after his disappearance on March 13,
2000 allegedly killed in an encounter and 19 RR claimed that they have killed three foreigners in an encounter. His body was
later exhumed and identified as local, the statement said. Latief Ahmad Ganie resident of Machama, Beerwah-Budgam, disappeared
on September 24, 2001 and Bashir Ahmad Khan resident of Chaunti Mohallah-Bandipora disappeared on September 24, 2001. 33 RR
claimed that they have killed two foreign militants in an encounter at village Hari Ganwan-Kangan, the statement said and
added that bodies after exhuming were identified to be that of the locals. Syed Yaseen Shah and Mohammad Anwar Shah, residents
of Kupwara disappeared in March 2004. 18 RR at Lolab claimed to have killed foreign militants, identified as Abu Fazil and
Jaffar Ali. Later the bodies, after exhuming, were identified to be of the above mentioned local residents. On July 6,
2004, Ghulam Mohammad Naik and Abdul Rashid Kutay both residents of Bahbi Jahlan, Noorabad - Qazigund disappeared. 9 RR Dhanew
camp claimed that they killed foreign militants on July 23, 2004. Later they too after exhuming were identified as locals. Ghulam
Mohammad Chopan resident of Badgam-Doligam, Banihal disappeared on February 24, 2004. 14 RR in their FIR claimed that they
had killed a foreign militant of LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) on February 27, 2004. In March, 2004 body was exhumed on the directions
of District Magistrate Doda and the same was identified as that of a local.
Farooq Ahmad a resident of Kupwara disappeared on August 24, 2003. In his case, the statement said that 18 RR claimed
that they have killed a foreign militant, later the body was exhumed and identified as that of a local. The DNA test report,
however, is still awaited. The list issued also included the names of Abdul Rehman Padder from Larnoo-Kokernag, Showkat
Ahmad Kataria from Banihal, Ghulam Nabi Wani, Ali Mohammad Padder from Matigawran-Kokernag and Nazir Ahmad Deka from Daksum-
Kokernag, whose bodies were recently exhumed and identified as those of civilians. The petition of Abdul Hameed Badyari
and Shabir Ahmad Gasi, residents of Boatmen Colony, Bemina, who disappeared on 21 January, 2000 is pending in the High Court
for exhuming. The former, according to the statement, was arrested by the security forces and the latter by the Special Task
Force (STF) and both were subsequently killed at Waligham- Kupwara, Taharatpora. The document also mentions the phenomenon
of unidentified graves. Four of these belong to persons who lay buried under them since 1990. Two other unidentified graves
exist since last year and the date of other two graves is yet to be ascertained. The document mentions that four of these
graves have been identified. The statement revealed that the person laid to rest in grave number 27 in the graveyard was buried
on January 20, 1990; person laid to rest in grave number 100 was buried in the same graveyard on August 15, 1990, person laid
to rest in grave number 165 was buried on June 2, 1990 and person laid to rest in grave number 166 was buried on June 2nd
1990. Two more graves, one of which has been identified as one of a Pakistani national, exists in the graveyard since last
year. Quoting grave numbers, the statement said that person laid to rest in grave number 45 was buried in March 2006 and the
person laid to rest in grave number 456 (Pakistani) was buried in the month of February 2006. According to the statement,
antecedents of the people buried in grave numbers 600 and 656 in the same graveyard could not be ascertained.
Disclaimer: Information is being made available at this site purely as a measure of public facilitation.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information hosted on this website is accurate
CHAIRMAN: VED BHASIN Kashmir Times Group of Publications Edited, printed and published by Prabodh Jamwal
Editor-in-Chief, The Kashmir Times, Residency Road, Jammu, J&K, INDIA. Executive Editor: Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal E-Mail:
vbhasin@sancharnet.in, jmt_prabodh@sancharnet.in
India: Impunity fuels conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. Abuses by Indian army and militants
continue, with perpetrators unpunished
(Srinagar, September 12, 2006) - The Indian government’s failure to end widespread impunity
for human rights abuses committed both by its security forces and militants is fueling the cycle of violence in Jammu and
Kashmir, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The 156-page report, "’Everyone Lives in Fear’: Patterns of Impunity in Jammu and
Kashmir *," documents recent abuses by the Indian army and paramilitaries, as well as by militants, many of whom are backed
by Pakistan. Indian security forces have committed torture, "disappearances" and arbitrary detentions, and they continue to
execute Kashmiris in faked "encounter killings," claiming that these killings take place during armed clashes with militants.
Militants have carried out bombings and grenade attacks against civilians, targeted killings, torture and attacks upon religious
and ethnic minorities.
These abuses have taken place against the backdrop of almost two decades of the failure of
the political and legal systems in India and Pakistan to end abuses or punish the perpetrators. Since 1989, the armed secessionist
struggle against Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed more than 50,000 lives. Kashmir remains a potential flashpoint
between the nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan.
"Human rights abuses have been a cause as well as a consequence of the insurgency in Kashmir,"
said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Kashmiris continue to live in constant fear because perpetrators of
abuses are not punished. Unless the Indian authorities address the human rights crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, a political settlement
of the conflict will remain illusory."
The new report, based on research from 2004 to 2006, documented abuses that have occurred since
the election in 2002 of a Jammu and Kashmir state government with an avowed human rights agenda and the resumption of peace
talks between India and Pakistan that same year (after the countries nearly went to war in 2002).
Indian security forces claim they are fighting to protect Kashmiris from militants and Islamic
extremists, while militants claim they are fighting for Kashmiri independence and to defend Muslim Kashmiris from an abusive
Indian army. In reality, both sides have committed widespread and numerous human rights abuses and violations of international
humanitarian law (or the laws of war).
Extrajudicial executions by Indian security forces are common. Police and army officials have
told Human Rights Watch that security forces often execute alleged militants instead of bringing them to trial in the belief
that keeping hardcore militants in detention is a security risk. Most of those summarily executed are falsely reported to
have died during armed clashes between the army and militants in "encounter killings."
The Indian government has effectively given its forces free rein, while Pakistan and armed
militant groups have failed to hold militants accountable for the atrocities they have committed. Through documentation of
the failure to prosecute in recent cases and some older, key cases, the report shows how impunity has fueled the insurgency.
If the Indian authorities had addressed these abuses seriously when they took place, public confidence in the authorities
would have increased and future abuses may have been substantially reduced. Instead, India failed to prosecute or discipline
the perpetrators.
Impunity has been enabled by Indian law. The report documents cases where Indian security forces
have shot civilians under the authority of laws such as the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act and the Armed Forces (Jammu
and Kashmir) Special Powers Act. These laws, enacted near the beginning of the conflict, allow lethal force to be used "against
any person who is acting in contravention of any law or order for the time being in force in the disturbed area." Other laws
offer state agents effective immunity from criminal prosecution. For example, Article 197 of the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure
only allows the prosecution of state actors with the permission of the relevant ministry. This is rarely provided. Prosecutions
of security force personnel, even where the facts are well established, are therefore rare.
Human Rights Watch also stated that the work of both the National Human Rights Commission and
the State Human Rights Commission in Jammu and Kashmir is severely hampered by laws that prohibit them from directly investigating
abuses carried out by the army or other federal forces. Although government officials claim that disciplinary measures have
been taken against some security personnel, it is unclear this happens, as details are almost never made public.
"It’s absurd that the world’s largest democracy, with a well-developed legal system
and internationally recognized judiciary, has laws on its books that prevent members of its security forces from being prosecuted
for human rights abuses," said Adams. "It’s time for the Indian government to repeal these laws and recommit itself
to justice for victims of all abuses, whoever the perpetrator may be."
The report also documents serious abuses by militants, many of whom continue to receive backing
from Pakistan. Numerous massacres, bombings, killings and attacks on schools attributed to the militants are often intentionally
downplayed by supporters of Kashmiri independence or its accession to Pakistan. Militant groups have targeted civilians, including
women and children, whom they consider to be "traitors to the cause" or for expressing views contrary to those of one or another
armed group. Alleged militants have murdered nearly 600 Kashmiri politicians since the conflict began, usually as retribution
for joining in the electoral process. Officials conducting the polls have been killed or tortured, some with their noses or
ears chopped off.
Militants have also been responsible for bomb attacks that targeted civilians. They have attacked
religious minorities in Kashmir such as Hindus and Sikhs, as well as ethnic minorities such as the Gujjars, whom the militants
target because they believe them to be government informers. Although many of the militant groups currently operating in Jammu
and Kashmir have become increasingly unpopular, Kashmiris are afraid to speak out against them. A conflict over Kashmiri identity
and independence has slowly but visibly mutated into a fight under the banner of religion, pitting Islam against Hinduism
and drawing religious radicals into its heart.
There is considerable evidence that over many years Pakistan has provided Kashmiri militants
with training, weapons, funding and sanctuary. Officially, Pakistan denies ever arming and training militants. Under pressure
from the United States after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Pakistan banned several militant groups in January 2002, including
the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Lashkar-e-Toiba. But these groups have continued to operate after changing their names. India
blames these groups for many armed attacks. Pakistan appears to be keeping its options open should peace talks collapse by
continuing to support these groups. Pakistan remains accountable for abuses committed by militants that it has armed and trained.
"The militants and their backers must end the bombings and the targeting of civilians," said
Adams. "Continued abuses ensure that the cycle of violence will continue. And these abuses only add to the suffering of the
people in whose name the militants are ostensibly fighting."
Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
* URL for ’Everyone Lives in Fear’: Patterns of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir http://hrw.org/reports/2006/india0906/.
Circulated by South Asia Citizens Wire | September 13, 2006 | Dispatch No. 2286.
Online 13 September 2006
The State of Jammu and Kashmir
The state of Jammu
and Kashmir is located in the north of South Asian Sub-continent.Total area
of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is 2,18780 Square kilometers. It was the biggest state of sub-continent before partition
of India and Pakistan. Its international boundaries with Tibet, China, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan.A narrow strip of Wakhan (Afghanistan) that separates it from the South Asian Muslim State of Tajikistan,
gave great strategic importance. Area-wise the state of Jammu and Kashmir is biggest than 110 independent countries and population-wise
The state of Jammu and Kashmir is bigger than 131 countries. This state can be divided into two main geographically and natural
regions.
i.The Valley Of Kashmir
ii.The Jammu
iii.The Northern Areas including Gilgit, Balistan & Ladkh
A Frenchman Bernier,
the first European tourist who visited Kashmir in 1964 AD. He said, “In truth the Kingdom surpasses in beauty all that
my warmest imagination had anticipated”.The famous tourist Marco polo
also visited Kashmir in 1275 to 1277 AD.
According to the
book “Kashmir” written by Sir Francis Young.
“The country
with which one is most apt compare Kashmir is, naturally, Switzerland”.And
Switzerland indexed has many charms and combinations of lake and mountain in which I think it excels Kashmir, but it is built
on smaller scale.There is not the same wide sweep of snow-clad mountains.There is no place where one can see a complete circle of snowy mountains surrounding
a plain of anything like the length and breadth of the Kashmir Valley, for the main valleys of Switzerland are the like the
side valleys of Kashmir.And above everything there is not behind Switzerland
what there is at the back of Kashmir, and visible in glimpses from the southern side a region of stupendous Mountains, surprising
every other in the world.
Geography:
The
State of Jammu and Kashmir located as longitude 73-80, 30 degree and longitude 32, 19-36, 57 degree.
Tibet, in the West
bound it on the East by Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the North by China and Tajikistan and on the South by India and Pakistan.Total area of The State Jammu & Kashmir is 84, 471 Sq. Miles before the partition
of Sub-continent into India and Pakistan. The State Jammu & Kashmir consisted of three provinces until 1947.
i.Jammu:Area of Jammu province was 12,
378 Sq. Miles / 32, 059 Sq. Kms.
ii.Valley Kashmir:Area of Valley Kashmir
was 85,539 Sq. Miles / 22, 1166 Sq. Kilometers / 84 x 25 Miles.
iii.Ladakh:Area of Ladakh is 63, 554 Sq
Miles / 1, 64, 605 Sq. Kms.
After the partition
of Sub-continent in 1947 into India and Pakistan, a unit of The State Jammu & Kashmir divided in two main parts.The temporary line of cease-fire also called Line of Control divided two main parts
of The State Jammu & Kashmir administratively by Pakistan and India.The
cease-fire line in Kashmir was marked on July 27th, 1949.The length
of 350 miles border of The State Jammu & Kashmir is connected with India.One
part of The State Jammu & Kashmir is under the control of Pakistan is called Pakistan Administrated Area.Another part of The State Jammu & Kashmir is the under the control of India is called Indian Administrated
Area.
Currently The State
Jammu & Kashmir is divided into four Units.
1.Indian Occupied Areas: It comprises of 14 districts
and 50 tehsils.It consists on
three regions.
i.Jammu:Area of the Indian Occupied Jammu is 9, 880 Sq. Miles
or 25, 589 Sq. Kms. It comprises on six districts.
ii.Kashmir
Valley: Area of the Indian Occupied Kashmir Valley is6, 893 Sq. Miles or 63, 615 Sq. Kms.It comprises on six districts.
iii.Ladakh:Area of Ladakh is 24, 562 Sq. Miles or 63, 615 Sq. Kms.It
comprises on two districts.
2.Northern Areas:Under administration of Government of Pakistan.The area of
Northern Areas is 29, 841 Sq. Miles or 77, 288 Sq. Kms.
3.China Occupied Kashmir:
i.During India-China war in 1962, China
occupied 6, 283 Sq. miles or 16281 Sq. Kms area of Ladakh that is called Aqsai Chan.
ii.1, 868 Sq. Miles or 4, 838 Kms. Northern
of Gilgit / Baltistan was handed over to China by Pakistan under agreement.
4.Azad Jammu &
Kashmir:Azad Jammu & Kashmir is located
between 73 25 to
74
35 East and 32 45 to 35 05 North.
Population Of The StateJammu &
Kashmir:
Population wise
The State Jammu & Kashmir is greater than 131 countries of the world. Region wise population data is:
i.Population of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) is 8.00 millions.
ii.Population of Azad Jammu and Kashmir 3.00 millions.
iii.Population of Northern Areas (Gilgit / Balistan) is 1.00 million.
iv.Refuges residing Pakistan 1.500 million.
v.Overseas kashmiries 1.5 million.
Total population
of the State of Jammu & Kashmir is 15 millions.
