Date:24/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/24/stories/2003042403081200.htm

Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Mufti's remark on missing persons criticised

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR APRIL 23. As the week-long hunger strike by the relatives of those ``disappeared in custody'' ended today, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) came down heavily on the Jammu and Kashmir Government and ridiculed the statement of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, on the issue in the presence of the Prime Minister. They said 28 people had disappeared during the present Government's rule.

``The Chief Minister, Mr. Sayeed's statement that only 50 to 60 cases of disappearance had been proved is not only humiliating for those thousands of affected families but also misleading,'' said Parvez Imroz, leading civil liberty activist and patron of the APDP. He said Mr. Sayeed had been talking about healing touch and peace with dignity and honour but during his rule 28 Kashmiris had disappeared and ``after we started strike on April 18 two people disappeared''. Mr Imroz said that the hunger strike by the relatives of those who had disappeared in custody during the last 13 years was to draw the attention of the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee.

But unfortunately, he said, ``Mr. Sayeed misled him and humiliated those thousands whose wards are missing by saying that most of them are believed to have crossed the Line of Control''.

He is contradicting his statement in the Assembly that the number of missing persons was over 3000 and his Law Minister, Muzaffar Beig, told the Assembly that 3744 persons were reported missing, Mr. Imroz said.

``Mr. Sayeed does not feel accountable to the people that is why he is giving statements which could please New Delhi only''. He asserted that over 8000 people are missing under enforced and involuntary disappearance cases.

Zahiruddin, a journalist said that even in the High Court 500 cases had been proved and the Chief Minister's statement was tantamount to humiliating the judiciary.

The APDP chairperson, Parveen Ahangar, whose son, Javed, was missing since 1990 when he was arrested by the Army, broke down and said ``the hunger strike was aimed at highlighting the issue and impress upon the government to stop these disappearances''.

``The hunger strike has not ended our ordeal but we have received solidarity letters from all over the world and in over a dozen countries human rights activists would protest against Kashmir disappearances on Thursday,'' said Mr. Ahangar.

Bilquees Manzoor, who also ended her fast today, said ``the Chief Minister has humiliated us. He himself told me that my case would be investigated''. Her father, a chemist shop owner, was arrested by security forces on January 18, last year and he is missing since then.