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241 civilians killed by troops last month in occupied Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: In occupied Kashmir, the Indian forces continuing their acts of gross violations of human rights, killed 241 innocent citizens during the month of March while 409 persons were tortured and injured during the same period, reports Kashmir Media Service (KMS).

The gruesome massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora in southern Kashmir by Indian forces and secret Agencies' personnel took place on March 20.

According to the monthly report released by the KMS, 48 persons got martyred during the custody. In the course of house to house search, raids and other illegal operations, the Indian troops arrested 437 persons whereas 36 people disappeared after they were arrested by Indian forces and police. During the month 29 women were molested or raped by the troops.

The Indian military and para-military forces torched 202 residential houses and shops at different places. Dozens of houses and shops were burnt to ashes when the troops put on fire a whole Pattan Bazar on the Srinagar-Baramula Road.

According to the KMS, more than 15,000 people attended the "Antanirdas ceremony held at Chatti Singhpora to commemorate the March 20 killing of 35 Sikhs at the village in Islamabad.

Prominent Sikh leaders from East Punjab addressing the gathering said that the Sikh community should give up the idea of migrating from the occupied valley but instead live along with the Muslim majority who have been sympathising with them.

Akali leader Gureham Singh Tohra and Samaranjeet Singh Maan, in their speeches asserted that the Sikhs are not getting a fair deal in India and hundreds of Sikh youths have been imprisoned under Tada and others black laws.

An impartial and independent inquiry of the Chatti Singhpora carnage was demanded.

On the occasion, the BJP leaders Madan Mohan Khurana and Chaman Lal Gupta said that the Indian government was taking concrete steps for safeguarding the Sikhs. Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party head Shabbir Ahmad Shah repudiating their claims said that the Indian army has failed to ensure the safety of the Sikh community and only the Muslim majority was capable of doing it.

Shabbir Ahmad Shah said that the massacre of Sikhs is a deep-rooted conspiracy, which aimed to project the Kashmiris struggle as terrorism.

He re-iterated that Indian official agencies or the Human Rights organisation could not be trusted and the inquiry into the incident should be conducted by some independent international organisation.

Shabbir Ahmad Shah said Kashmiris want a peaceful resolution of the issue but it was India, which is responsible for jeopardising peace in the region as a result of its obduracy and stiff-necked policies.

Shabbir Ahmad Shah also addressed a gathering in Islamabad town where demonstrations have been continuing for the last three days in protest against the disappearance of young men.

He warned if the dead bodies of five youth killed by Indian troops in a fake encounter in Panchal Khun were not handed over to their families by April 3, then the Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Party would stage a sit-in at Islamabad.

There have been clashed between Indian forces and Mujahideen at several places in occupied Valley.

According to reports, there was a heavy exchange of fire during siege by Indian forces personnel at Manusbal, Ganderbal in which military sources have confirmed casualties suffered by the troops. A citizen also got martyred while the firing caused severe damage to the buildings. The troops beat up and tortured the citizens in the locality.

In Karcri, Pattan, a stampede followed when unknown gunmen opened fire on a religious shrine. A freed young man Bashir Ahmad Chauhan was killed during the firing while two small girls; Asifa and Perveena received injuries when the troops fired at them. Many persons were trampled during the stampede in the fair that was under progress at the shrine.

In the upper jungle area in Gulmarg, three Indian troops were killed and several others wounded by lighting. Those killed were Mahesh Kumar, Rajinder Lal and Prem Nath.

A Mujahideen spokesman, giving details of the encounter at Sahipore, Wothergam said that five Indian armed forces personnel were killed and wounded while two Mujahids embraced shahadat.

In Palhalan, Pattan, unknown armed men shot dead Lambardar, Haji Muhammad Kamal Butt in his house near the Task Force camp.

At Pampore a body has been recovered from river Jehlum which could not be identified while two persons Maulvi Ahmad Din in Rajouri and Ghulam Hassan in Banihal have been abducted by armed men.

The Indian forces personnel involved in collective rape of a mother and her daughter in Banihal, have been pin-pointed during an identity parade. The culprits include Captain Trivedi, Bharat Bhoshan and Sunil Kumar. It could not however, be ascertained what action is contemplated against these criminals. APP