Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that 1321 out of the 1427 complaints of human rights excesses involving personnel of Army and central paramilitary forces as false.
According to the annual (2014-15) report of MHA, from January 1994 to December 2014, out of 1427 complaints of human rights excesses received against the personnel of Army and central paramilitary forces, 1401 have been investigated out of which 1321 have been found false.
The report said in 80 cases complaints were found genuine “in which personnel responsible were punished”.
Citing the Machil encounter of 2010 in which three civilians were killed in a fake encounter, the MHA report states that in November 2014, an army court-martial convicted five army personnel and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
“The government attaches highest importance to the protection of human rights. It has repeatedly expressed its commitment to protection of human rights and prevention of HR violations in the country. The security forces are under instructions to respect the human rights of all people and work steadfastly with a humane face while performing their day-to-day operational duties,” the report said.
It further states that every reported case of human rights violations is taken serious note of, and investigation is made promptly in a transparent manner and taken to its logical conclusion.
“A suitable punitive action is taken against those found guilty.”
Pertinently, in its latest report, Amnesty International accused Government of India and J&K State of “obstructing justice” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Amnesty had stated that the violence in Jammu and Kashmir has taken a “terrible human toll on all sides”.
“From 1990 to 2011, Jammu and Kashmir state government reportedly recorded a total of over 43000 people killed out of which 3642 civilians were killed by security forces,” AI report said.
“21323 were said to be militants while 13226 civilians were killed by armed groups. 5369 security force personnel were killed by armed groups.”