Saga of extra-judicial killings, rights violations continues, says Mirwaiz

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said the “unfortunate saga of extra judicial killings and rights violations” of people of J&K continues as the perpetrators are never brought to book.

The statement by Mirwaiz has come after two recent incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. In Billawar area of Kathua district, a 26-year-old man, accused of being involved in militancy, allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday night following alleged harassment by police.

In Baramulla district, a truck driver was killed in Army firing on Wednesday when he allegedly refused to stop his vehicle at a check post despite repeated warnings, officials said.

Mirwaiz said, “After large scale arbitrary arrests throughout Valley, deaths of two persons—one in Kathua of a Gujjar youth by suicide after custodial torture, and the other in Sopore of truck driver Wasim Malla in firing by Army troops while highly condemnable is very disturbing.”

“The unfortunate saga of extra judicial killings and rights violations of people of J&K continues as the perpetrators are never brought to book,” he said, adding, “This cycle will never cease until accountability is established and justice delivered.”

The Hurriyat Conference chief said it is the responsibility of the authorities, including the elected representatives, to ensure that these crimes do not take place and if they do, they are investigated and those behind it punished.

“APHC (All Parties Hurriyat Conference) also regrets the arrest of hundreds of people across the Valley in recent days and appeals to the authorities to release them,” he said.