119 civilians killed by forces in 2016, 16000 wounded, 13000 arrested, 3 civilians died in accidents due to alleged road blockades, 2 cops killed in mob attacks, says Hurriyat (M) Human Rights report
Stating that the summer of 2016, will go into the history of Kashmir as a season of “epidemic of dead eyes,” Hurriyat (M) on Thursday said that “119 civilians were killed by security forces in J&K this year.” The group also asserted that three civilians lost their lives in accidents caused allegedly due to road blockades, etc., during protests while two police personnel died in mob attacks.
In its annual human rights report released on Thursday, the pro-freedom group slammed the Government for committing gross human rights violations in Kashmir during this year.
“This year, Kashmir witnessed gross violation of human rights in the form of extrajudicial executions, torture, injuries, the killing of human beings, unabated use of Public Safety Act (PSA), illegal detentions, vandalism of properties, ban on congregational religious activities, media gags and ban on communication and internet services,” reads the report prepared by group’s human rights cell.
The report released by Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq talks in detail about the civilian killings, injuries and arrests in Kashmir post killing of Burhan Wani by forces on July 7.
The report states that the summer of 2016 “will go into the history of Kashmir as a season of ‘epidemic of dead eyes’ due to the havoc wreaked by pellets.
“During this year, Kashmir undoubtedly suffered on all fronts. Human sufferings touched new heights and this was a horrifying scenario which the Valley has not seen since 1989. As the wounds of 2008, 2009 and 2010 were still bleeding, 2016 overtook them all as number of horrid and horrendous cases of human rights abuses were reported from across the valley, ’’reads the report.
According to the report, 389 persons were killed in violent acts in J&K this year- 151 civilians, 80 armed forces and police personnel and 158 militants.
Mincing no words in castigating Government forces for human rights violations, the pro-freedom group said 119 civilians were killed in forces action in 2016.
“Among these 119 persons, two were extra -judicially executed. At least 18 persons killed by the forces had pellet injuries and eight persons died due to hits by tear smoke shells while five persons died due to heart attack allegedly during the raids, etc., and four civilians were drowned during chase by the forces. At the same time, one person died allegedly due to suffocation caused by the tear smoke shells,” the report reveals.
“Three civilians died due to accidents caused allegedly by the roadblocks, etc., during the protests. Among 80 forces and police personnel killed during this year, two police personnel lost their lives due to attacks by the mobs during protests.”
The conglomerate said 13 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen in J&K. “Two persons were killed in cross firing incidents between forces and militants,” it said.
Of late, the pro-freedom group’s human rights cell has been quite active and is using the Right to Information law to expose the human rights violations committed in J&K. The pro-freedom group also collected the statistics about Kashmir’s pellet- hit victims post 2010 unrest.
According to the report, 14 civilians were killed in firing or shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops, the report said.
16000 INJURIES
Stating that “force used against the protesting children and youth during this year has no parallel in the contemporary history of the state”, the group said 16000 persons were wounded in 2016.
“The number of injured during this year is over 16,000. Of them, more than 70 % injured were hit by the deadly pellets. Around 1200 persons have been blinded in one eye, including toddlers, teenagers, old aged men and women. More than 40 persons suffered pellet injuries in both eyes and lost eye sight,” its report reads.
It states that 3300 forces personnel were also injured in stone throwing incidents during clashes”.
13000 ARRESTED
The pro-freedom group said 13,000 people were arrested, detained and jailed post killing of Burhan Wani, while lashing at Government for “nocturnal raids, arrests, illegal confinement and frequent crackdown on voices of dissent.
It said more than 670 persons including minors were detained under PSA.
The group also came down heavily on Government for imposing e-curfew in Kashmir, saying “Kashmir was not only blinded by pellets but through siege and communication blockade as well”.
“Due to internet blockade, this year PSC received only 43000 forms from KAS 2016 aspirants of which 70 percent forms have been received from Jammu region only. Besides affecting the studies of school children, the decision to snap the internet services also delayed the conduct of KAS exams and other interviews of applicants aspiring for government jobs,” the group’s report reads.
The pro-freedom group, in the report, has also slammed the authorities for “violating religious rights of Kashmiris” and also on caging the pro-freedom leadership.
The report also expresses concern over Government’s “callous” attitude towards State Human Rights Commission and State Information Commission.
“The Commission (SIC) has been left entirely defunct after its lone Information Commissioner completed his term on November 17, thus stalling its overall work and leaving no higher authority for the public to appeal to under the Right to Information Act. Thus the Commission (SIC) is almost defunct as all the three commissioners have completed their term,” the report reads.
