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Activists want rights institutionalised in J&K

By Luv Puri

Jammu May 31. A seven-member team of human rights activists has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Centre to ensure that the rule of law and respect for human rights prevailed in the State by institutionalising human rights. The team, comprising activists from the Association for Democratic rights, Punjab; the Human Rights Forum, Andhra Pradesh; and the Organisation for Protection of Democratic Rights, Andhra Pradesh, toured the State to study the human rights situation.

In its report released today, the team said: "The PDP-Congress Government came to power on the specific promise of restoration of respect for human rights. In brief, our observation is that while the incidence of custodial deaths may have come down to some extent, the administration's response to the same and its respect for lawful governance and the rule of law is no better than in the previous administration and the Governor's rule that preceded." The increase in the killing of unarmed civilians and non-combatants by militants was another serious issue. In recent times, there had been a number of gruesome killings of families, including women, children and the aged, by militants in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. It said that every custodial death should be followed by a judicial enquiry. If there was a prima facie case against the forces, they should be arrested for culpable homicide and prosecuted. Compensation should be paid to the victims' family without waiting for the conclusion of the trial.

The displaced persons from the border should be treated on a par with the other migrants for the purpose of relief. They should not be forced to go back to the border, but should be rehabilitated within the State. Adequate compensation should be given for loss of life, limb or cattle due to explosion of anti-personnel mines.

It said displaced persons from the border were seriously aggrieved by this discrimination for which the officials whom the team met (the DCs of Rajouri and Poonch) had no explanation. The Government appeared to be inclined to ensure that the migrants got back to their villages, despite knowing that the situation was unpredictable.

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