JKNF hails UN rapporteurs’ assertions on Sehrai’s custodial killing Condemns raids on residence of four Kashmiri journalists

JKNF hails UN rapporteurs’ assertions on Sehrai’s custodial killing

Condemns raids on residence of four Kashmiri journalists

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Front (JKNF) has welcomed the four UN Special Rapporteurs’ remarks regarding the custodial killing of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman Shaheed Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and illegal arrest of his sons after his funeral.

Terming it as a sign of growing realization at global level about the worsening situation in the occupied Kashmir, the National Front spokesman Shafiq-ur-Rehman said that the UN special Rapporteurs’ official communication to the government of India serves as a bill of indictment against the BJP government’s dodgy and destructive role in Kashmir. Referring to use and abuse of power by the Indian occupation authorities, the spokesman said that the authorities at the helm of affairs were shamelessly using black laws such as PSA, UAPA and others to intimidate, harass and humiliate Kashmiris.

He said that THK chairman’s death in Kotbhalwal jail in Jammu and arrest of his two sons after the funeral speaks volumes about the occupation authorities’ callous difference towards the sufferings of Kashmiri people who he said were not allowed to mourn the death of their beloved ones.

Citing the UNCIP resolutions, the spokesman said that the Indian government has miserably failed in fulfilling the responsibilities it had assumed under the UNCIP resolutions vis-à-vis protecting the lives of Kashmiri people.  “Instead of protecting the lives Kashmiris Indian state has deprived them of their basic rights and liberties”, he said adding that death of veteran Kashmiri leader during custody highlights the pathetic plight of Kashmiri detainees who have been languishing in different Indian jails. As per the international law the Indian government was duty bound to protect the lives of all detained individuals regardless of their political affiliation/ideology. “The duty to protect prisoners’ lives includes providing them with necessary medical care and adequately regular monitoring of their health”, he said adding that Sehrai’s death in the prison was a clear case of extrajudicial killing as the prison officials treated him with deliberate indifference. “This deliberate indifference, denying and delaying access to medical care has led to tragic death of the Kashmiri leader”, the spokesman added.

Urging the world human rights organizations to take effective notice of the matter the spokesman said that it was high time that the Indian government should be held accountable for the crimes its forces have been committing against Kashmiris.

Meanwhile, the JKNF spokesman while condemning the police raids on four Kashmiri journalists termed it as an atrocious assault on the Press freedom. He noted regrettably that the Indian fascist regime was hell bent on muzzle media and independent voices to ensure a graveyard silence in the region.

“Intimidation, harassment and detention of journalists is part of a wider crackdown by the fascist Modi regime on the free media in Kashmir”, the spokesman said.