National Human Rights Commission: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a complaint requesting its intervention for an appropriate enquiry in the recent incident of stone pelting and assault by an unruly and disruptive mob on the Army personnel in the Shopian district of Jammu & Kashmir on the 27th January, 2018. Raising the issue of the safety of soldiers and officers of the Indian Army, deployed in encounter insurgency areas in Jammu & Kashmir and other states, the complaint sought to draw the attention of the Commission to the innumerable and frequent instances of violation of human rights of the army personnel, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Commission has observed that in view of the facts narrated and allegations leveled in the complaint, it will be appropriate to call for a factual report from the Union Ministry of Defence, through its Secretary, to know the present status of the situation and steps taken by the Union Government on the points raised by the complainants regarding alleged humiliation and violation of the human rights of the army personnel in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Accordingly, a communication has been sent to the Union Defence Secretary, expecting the response within four weeks.
The complaint has been filed by the three children of the officers of Indian Army, maintaining that they are disturbed by the recent incidents of stone pelting and assaults by unruly and disruptive mob on security forces. They alleged, quoting news reports, that the attack on an army convoy in Shopian district was completely unprovoked an unwarranted; still an FIR was registered against the army personnel. They quoted, date wise, a series of incidents wherein, allegedly, the army faced hostilities from the very people, it was deployed to protect. Not only that, even FIRs were registered against the army.
It is pointed out in the complaint that the administration, which is being assisted by the Indian Army, has failed to safeguard the human rights of the members of the Armed Forces. They cited instances of various countries, wherein severe punishment is meted out to those involved in stone pelting on Armed Forces. They have also stated that it is revealed that the FIRs, registered against the stone pelters and perpetrators of violence, had been withdrawn upon the directions of the Government of J&K and that it will definitely lower down the morale of the troops.
National Human Rights Commission
