Ishfaq Tantry

A Srinagar-based human rights group has advocated an international investigation into “torture” in Kashmir. It has said the United Nations establish a commission of inquiry to investigate what it calls the “endemic use of torture” by government forces.

The J&K Coalition of Civil Society on Monday released a 560-page comprehensive report on “Torture” in J&K, focusing on alleged torture “perpetrated” in the state by the government forces as a “matter of policy” since 1990. The report also provided a contextual understanding of various phases of torture since 1947.

“Torture is the most under-reported human rights violation perpetrated by the state in J&K,” the report noted, while using 432 case studies, including 293 civilians, 119 militants and 27 minors.

“Due to the legal, political and moral impunity extended to the armed forces, not a single prosecution has taken place in any case of human rights violation in the region,” the report said.

The report claims that the “widespread use of torture” continues unabatedly in J&K. It said on March 19, a school principal, Rizwan Pandith (29), was killed “due to torture after being illegally detained at the Cargo camp of the Special Operations Group” of the J&K Police. It said three days after his death, the deceased was booked for attempting to escape from custody.

Stating that entire populations have also been subjected to ‘collective punishments’ such as cordons and searches, the reports provides an insight into how torture has ruined the lives of survivors, with many of them now suffering from chronic ailments.

The report has recommended a probe by the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into the torture practice adopted by the Indian Government in Kashmir, besides urging India to ratify the UN Convention against torture and also allow global rights groups “unhindered access” to Kashmir.

Courtesy:The Tribune,May 21,2019