KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), Wednesday held a silent protest in summer capital Srinagar against what it termed state and central governments’ “hypocritical approach” in tracing out their family members, subjected to enforced disappearance since 1989 across the state.
The family members of disappeared youth, mostly females duing their silent-sit in at Pratap Park Srinagar castigated the successive governments for being indifferent towards their pain and agony. “Neither National Conference nor PdP did anything for them to trace their missing loved one,” said an elderly woman to CNS whose son according to her was picked by Border Security Forces during a crackdown 19 years ago and since then she doesn’t know where he is.
Wearing white head bands with names of disappeared people written in black, the relatives participated in APDP’s proposed sit-in program to draw attention of the government and the media to seek information about their loved ones, who have vanished, presumed dead or imprisoned without trial or record.
The family members of the disappeared persons alleged that their dear ones have been subjected to enforced disappearances by the Indian forces and their related agencies from their homes, streets and even roads. They vowed to continue her struggle for truth, justice and accountability till both the state and central governments accept their demand of impartial probe into the enforced disappearances and custodial killings.
APDP chairperson, Parveena Ahangar demanded that India must comply with its obligations under international human rights laws.
She said the state must consider the recommendations of Universal Periodic Review-2 (UPR-2) and ratify the International Convention for Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, besides repealing Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). (CNS)
