Kashmiris slam alleged rights violations by Indian forces

Braving the December chill, people in Indian-administered Kashmir have staged a sit-in protest, ahead of the International Human Rights Day, demanding strict action against the security forces accused of kidnapping their missing relatives.

Seeking the whereabouts of their relatives and friends subjected to custodial disappearances, protesters called upon the federal government of Kashmir to form an independent commission to probe the complaints of enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, torture, rape and other human rights abuses allegedly committed by Indian security forces over the past two decades. They criticised government of India for denying justice to the families of missing persons. 

Rukhsana's father was arrested more than a decade ago when she was only 11. She has traveled about 40 miles to join the protest. 

Human rights groups claim that around 8000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearance by Indian security forces in this Muslim-majority region. 

International human rights watchdog bodies including United Nation Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and Amnesty International (AI) have repeatedly castigated India for its poor human rights record in Indian-administered-Kashmir. 

State-run human rights commission has received about 6000 complaints in last 15 years that speaks volumes about the rampant human rights abuses in this restive region. 

Political observers believe the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is the root cause of the human rights abuses happening with sheer impunity. The law gives sweeping powers to security forces to kill, arrest, or destroy property on mere suspicion. 

Human rights groups have long been demanding revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, but the government says that time is not yet ripe for the withdrawal of the law. Indian government has called for zero tolerance regarding human rights abuses in this region. 

Regional and International human rights bodies have time and again criticised India over its horrible human rights record in Kashmir. Ahead of International Human Rights Day, people of Kashmir are yet again protesting against what they call travesty of justice in the largest democracy.