AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SEEKS INQUIRY

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SEEKS INQUIRY

 

AI Seeks Inquiry in Chittisinghpora Deaths 

- 2002-02-02

SRINAGAR, FEB 02(Kashmir Observer) Amnesty International (AI), a watchdog organisation on human rights abuses all over the world, has sought an "official inquiry" into the Chattisinghpora massacre in which 36 Sikhs were gunned down on March 20, 2000. In a communication to Kashmir Observer, on January 24, the AI member, Thelma Boeder, demanded implementation of Pandian Commission recommendations.

Expressing grave concern 'over recent and not-so-recent events in India, the AI feared that "Indian officials' failure to resolve questions surrounding the killing of 36 Sikh men in Chithisinghpora on March 20, 2000, can only fuel the continuing differences between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir". 

"The deaths in Chithisinghpora resulted in further violence, the execution of 5 men at Panchaltan on March 25, 2000, and the deaths of 7 protestors (protesting the Panchaltan deaths) at Brakpora on April 3, 2000. Those who died at Panchaltan might have been involved in the deaths at Chithisinghpora, but this was not proven. They were arrested by security forces as part of a group of 17. The other 12 were released," Boeder said. 

The deaths in Brakpora, Boeder said, were investigated by a commission led by Justice Pandian, a retired supreme court judge. However, the chief minister, "Dr Farooq Abdullah, has yet to implement the recommendations of the Pandian Commission, which were to bring murder charges against certain members of the Central Reserve Police Force and the Special Operations Group who fired on the protestors". 

Boeder said, "Amnesty International requests an official inquiry into the Chittisinghpora deaths of 36 Sikhs...as promised the following October by Dr Abdullah. We also ask for immediate adherence to the recommendations of the Pandian Commission." 

Finally, Boeder said, "we ask that DNA test result from samples taken from the exhumed bodies of the men executed at Panchaltan be made public." 

Posted on 2002-02-04

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