Srinagar, December 10
Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Front (JKHRF) chairman Mohammad Ahsan Untoo sustained burn injuries today when he set himself on fire on the world human rights day in protest against the state government’s failure to appoint a commission to probe human rights abuses in the state.
Timely action by police personnel from the Kothi Bagh police station saved him.
A large number of police and media personnel had gathered near the front’s office as Mr Untoo had announced to immolate himself today in protest against the state government’s failure to appoint a commission to probe human rights abuses in the state.
Despite their presence, Mr Untoo in flames suddenly appeared there. Police personnel swung into action and
removed his burnt clothes. He was later arrested along with four women activists of the front.
At the police station he said he had taken the extreme step as the authorities had turned a blind eye to human rights violations in the state.
He said ex gratia or government jobs to victims could not halt the increasing human rights violations by the security forces.
“What is needed is stern action against all those who have committed excesses during all these years,” he said.
Mr Untoo said killing of innocents, forced disappearances, rape and molestation of women, extra-judicial executions, torture and harassment and setting ablaze of property was still on to suppress the people’s movement in the state.
More than 2100 cases of disappearances had been reported during the past 13 years in the Jammu and Kashmir. These included 57 non-Kashmiris and four foreign tourists who were abducted by an unknown militant outfit “Al-Faran” in 1995.
Since January this year, 55 persons had disappeared while 27 were killed in custody, he said. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) were set up only to justify the wrongs done by the security forces.
A number of organisations including Human Watch organised dharnas and processions at different places in the valley today on the World Human Rights Day.
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabir Ahmad Shah also alleged that security forces were indulging in human rights violations in the state and asked the international community to take note of it.
PTI, UNI
