Date:12/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/12/stories/2007051203651300.htm

National

``Rights of Kashmiris trampled upon''

Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR: Calling for immediate restoration of civil administration in rural areas of Kashmir, where the "Army is at the helm," human rights activists on Friday urged the Centre to involve the people in finding a solution to the Kashmir issue.

Painting a grim picture of "human rights violations" in the Valley, the 11-member team from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi told a news conference here that the basic rights of citizens of Jammu and Kashmir had been violated, and "there is no redress from authorities."

Headed by K. Balagopal of the Human Rights Forum, Andhra Pradesh, the team visited south Kashmir and documented cases of human rights violation allegedly committed by the security forces. It said the revolt against counter-insurgent-turned-politician Papa Kishtwari was significant. "We salute the courage of the people who revolted against Kishtwari, who has the full backing of the Army and the police," said Dr. Balagopal.

Kishtwari, he said, had murdered hundreds of people during his "reign of terror since 1994," and there were "22 cases, about which full details have been given to the Government."