Breaking: NHRC Takes Cognizance Of Targeted Killing Of Minorities In Kashmir

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has registered a case regarding the targeted killings of minority Hindus and Sikhs in Kashmir. The case has been registered based on a complaint filed earlier this month by Dalit Positive Movement, a Dalit rights organisation in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

The complaint states that in the month of October alone, thirteen civilians have been killed, including migrant workers. The complaint specifically refers to the killing of a Dalit hawker from Bihar, Virendra Paswan who was shot and killed while he was selling snacks from his roadside stall in Srinagar.

The complaint also refers to the killing of Makhan Lal Bindroo, a 70 year old Kashmiri Pandit and a pharmacist, who was shot dead in Srinagar last month.

The complaint states that, "These people who were murdered were not from the state administration or from the armed forces but they were ordinary law abiding and socially responsible citizens who were serving the interests of Kashmir and "Kashmiriyat". However, what they got in return was "Haivaniyat" and we see a time now that such demonic butchery has reached beyond the point of hollow condemnations and demands the strictest of actions to maintain the rule of law and with it the people's confidence in the rule of law, which seems to have faded away drastically in the wake of the ongoing deadly attacks and an apathetic and lackadaisical approach by the law enforcement agencies at all levels in dealing with the same". 

The Complaint also states that, "It is disheartening to see that we are witnessing a repeat of what happened in the 1990s. Men, Women, Children and the elderly continue to live in fear and another round of exodus has been triggered which is a stab in the back of all those who believed that "Yes Peace is Possible". Threats have been issued to Kashmiri school going girls and to migrant workers by these terrorist elements. We have received incriminating evidence and victim account of the atrocities faced by Nationalist forces in the Kashmir valley. A heart wrenching factual story of the happenings on the ground from the son of a village sarpanch belonging to the Kashmiri Sikh community.".  

The complainant seeks preparation of a report on the situation of religious minorities in Kashmir by the NHRC and submission of the same to the central government. "A team must be sent by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) from New Delhi and a report with all the grievances of the minority community, atrocities committed on them and denial of their Human, Democratic and Constitutional Rights, must be submitted to the central government in not less than 15 calendar days from the formation of such a team and make the report public. There would be many such grim stories like the one we are presenting to you and they must be brought to the fore", the complainant prays.

The complaint, which is also addressed to the Union Home Minister, among others, seeks protection for Kashmiri minorities by central security forces.

The NHRC has registered a case on the 28th of November and has intimated the complainant about the same.