KL Report

SRINAGAR

On 12th anniversary of Nadimarg Massacre that saw killing of 24 Kashmiri Pandit civilians at Nadimarg, Shopian, a human rights group Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) Monday said all such massacres must be viewed in comprehensive political context and other considerations must not allow for the truth about the perpetrators and their motivations to remain hidden.

“Most of the massacres against minorities started taking place after 1996, when State forces had consolidated the counter insurgency mechanisms by the creation of Ikhwan – pro-government militia (1994), Special Task Force (1994), which later became Special Operations Group, Village Defence Committees (1995),” said Khurram Parvez, Spokesman JKCCS.

The creation of these groups, Khurram said, led to a deep militarized polarization and accelerated the new efforts of the Indian State’s dirty war in Jammu and Kashmir.

“A feature of violent incidents of this phase was the obfuscation of truth and culpability,” he said. “Examples of such dirty war operations include the disappearance and murder of 5 foreign tourists in Pahalgam in 1995, which later was revealed as a secret operation of Indian agencies.”

A case was registered under FIR no. 24/2003 in the Zainapora Police Station in the massacre that included killing of 12 females.

“Unlike other cases, the investigation was completed within 3 months and on 9th June 2003 the case was challaned in the Shopian court,” continued Khurram. “According to police investigations Ab. Rafi, Abu Waseem, Abu Bilal and Zeya Mustafa were named as the assailants. Presently only Zeya Mustafa, a Pakistani national is facing the trial at Shopian Court, with the next date of hearing being 4 April 2015.”

Nadimarg massacre is one of many massacres – such as Chattisinghpora – where minorities were attacked. “And the State indicted Pakistani and local militants, but the truth behind the massacres never came out,” the JKCCS spokesman said.

“In Chattisinghpora the two Pakistani nationals were acquitted. In Nadimarg it appears only 1 person faces trial and according to court records there is not enough evidence against the accused, which may lead to another acquittal.”

All these massacres, Khurram said, must be viewed in comprehensive political context and other considerations must not allow for the truth about the perpetrators and their motivations to remain hidden.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here