Kin of missing Kashmiris intensify struggle
Special Correspondent
Protesters demand to be told "where they are"
SRINAGAR: Following the expose of fake encounters, the search for those missing in Kashmir for the last 17 years has intensified with the affected families taking to the streets.
While Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced a probe into all cases of disappearances since 1990, the State Human Rights Commission has in its latest report said that it received 39 complaints about disappearances during 2005-06.
The protests over the killing of innocent civilians in fake encounters which rocked the Kashmir Valley in the past 10 days have encouraged the kin of those who have disappeared allegedly in custody. A silent protest outside the High Court on Friday showed the plight of the affected families.
Wailing men, women and children were carrying pictures of their missing relatives and demanding to be told "where they are." "At least someone should give me the dead body of my son so that I can bury him in my own graveyard," said Bakhti from Wanigam (Pattan) whose son Tariq Ahmad was allegedly picked up by the Army from the Zangam camp on November 9, 1999.
``Met him in custody''
The same was the case with the family of Parvez Ahmad Khan of Lolab who was arrested by the 18 Rashtriya Rifles unit based in Tekipora Kupwara.
"We met him in custody for two months but after that we don't know where he is," said one of his relatives.
The condition of the family of Ulfat Shah of Nambal Pattan (Anantnag) who had left for Srinagar on May 26, 2006, is even more pitiable.
His father could not bear the tragedy of losing his son and soon passed away.
There were many families asking for the whereabouts of their missing people. "It (protest) will gain momentum now as many people believe that their dear ones have been killed," said Parveena Ahangar, chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons. Ms. Parveena is herself in search of her son Javed since August 1990.
