Dr. Ayyub Thakur- Great Son Of Kashmir

The First Nuclear Scientist And The Freedom Fighter Of Kashmir

Muhammad Ayyub Thakur (1948 – March 10, 2004) was Kashmiri freedom activist, philanthropist,and founder-president of London-based World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM), an organisation dedicated to finding a peaceful political solution to the Kashmir Conflict. He was known for his work to the humanity at the platform of charity organization, Mercy Universal and for coordinating at the international level for the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr. Thakur had lectured extensively on Kashmir issue. He attended hundreds of seminars and conferences around the world in universities, think tanks and other institutions, including the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and United Nations bodies. Dr Thakur was a Trustee of the UK-based charity, Mercy Universal, which he had founded in 2000 and was the Director of the Justice Foundation, which he founded in 2003 as a registered UK company to advance the Kashmir cause through public advocacy. Mery Universal provides humanitarian assistance mainly to the war-torn Kashmiri people.

Early life:

Muhammad Ayyub Thakur was born in 1948, in a poor peasent family, in Pudsoo village near Shopian, district Pulwama in Indian administrated Kashmir. He was the eldest of four children

Political activities:

Dr. Ayyub Thakur obtained his Doctorate (Phd.) in Nuclear Physics from the University of Kashmir. In 1978, after a brief stint at the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (Zakoora, Srinagar) he became lecturer in the Department of Physics in the same university. He had a keen interest in the social and political issues of Jammu and Kashmir. He started his political career in early 1970s as a student leader in the University of Kashmir. He rallied Kashmiri youth and students and founded Jammu and Kashmir Students Islamic Organisation in 1974 and continued to be its patron till 1977. This organisation later merged with another organisation and changed into Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, which he headed from 1977–1981. He was also the president of Kashmir University Students Union and Kashmir University Research Scholars Association. As a student leader, Dr. Thakur attended international youth and student conferences at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1979, Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1980 and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the same year. In these conferences, Dr. Thakur put forward the Kashmiri viewpoint and drew the world attention towards the Kashmir problem. In Kuala Lumpur conference in 1980, he was instrumental in passing a resolution condemning the Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Thakur organised meetings of the youth and students to challenge the Kashmir’s accession to India which he considered as fraudulent. He strongly opposed the accord between unionist Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdullah and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974, as being aimed at strengthening Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

After becoming lecturer at the University of Kashmir he intensified his peaceful political activities. He began organising students and colleagues to form an intellectual response to the Indian occupation. In August 1980, he and many of his colleagues at university and students organisation, Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba, organised an international conference on the issue of right of self-determination of Kashmiris as outlined in the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir. Indian government, however, banned the conference and dismissed Dr. Ayyub from his job as a university teacher, and later imprisoned him along with his colleagues under Public Safety Act (PSA). During his five month imprisonment, he was subjected to inhuman torture of all sorts, but he refused to compromise on his political ideology. After his release in 1981 he bagan to travel far and wide in Kashmir to mobilise the Kashmir youth. But police always tried to intrupts his activities every now and then. Tired of playing a cat-and-mouse game with the police, on May 25, 1981 he opted to accept the offer of a lecturer in the King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where he served up to 1984.

In exile:

In 1981, Dr. Thakur joined the Nuclear Engineering Department of King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia as Assistant Professor. During his stay, he tried to mobilise support for the Kashmir cause and organised camps for the Kashmiri pilgrims during Hajj. He married the daughter of a respectable man from Baramulla in 1981, in absentia. Probably the first marriage where groom’s consent was taken on phone and the bride flew to Jeddah. After six years of his service, he went to London in 1986 for post-doctoral research programme and simultaneously started organising support for the Kashmir issue. Later in 1990, he took over as the founder president of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM). He was also trustee of the UK-based charity, Mercy Universal, which he had founded in 2000 and Director of the Justice Foundation, which he founded in 2003

World Kashmir Freedom Movement:

The World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM) is an umbrella organisation of expatriate Kashmiris from Indian administrated Kashmir working internationally for the promotion of the Kashmir cause. It was set up on 17 June 1990 with Dr. Ayyub Thakur as it president and has offices in Europe, Americas and Middle East. In July 1991, the World Kashmir Freedom Movement organised an international conference on Kashmir issue in Washington, D.C. A large number of US congressmen, members of British Parliament and European Parliament as well as distinguished intellectuals and academicians participated in the conference and supported tri-partite talks for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. During his address to the conference, Dr. Ayyub Thakur, urged Kashmiri militants to renounce the misuse of force no matter how compelling the self-determination aspiration. He was the first Kashmiri leader to offer conditional and issue-based moral support to the Kashmiri militants. The conference was a great success and generated a lot of debate in media and political circles much to the annoyance of India. The Indian Government took the success of the conference very seriously, and accused Dr. Ayyub Thakur of sending money to the Kashmiri freedom fighters for terrorist activities. Under the directions of various Indian intelligence agencies, many cases ranging from terrorism to sabotage were registered against him. The Indian Government booked him under infamous Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). This case later formed the genesis of the famous Jain Hawala Corruption Case, in which 38 prominent Indian politicians were charge sheeted and later discharged. Dr. Ayyub Thakur also attended the 1991 Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Foreign minister meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, the 1993 OIC summit meeting in Dakar, Senegal and World tactics did not yield the desired result. On this occasion Dr. Ayyub Thakur led a delegation and highlighted the Indian intransigence and the massive human rights violations. World KKashmir Freedom Movement also joined other Kashmiri groups and attended March 1993 session of United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) and later the World Conference on Human Rights at Vienna, Austria in June 1993. As the World Kashmir Freedom Movement activities were growing, Indian Government tried to extradite Ayub Thakur on charges of financing ‘terrorism’ and secessionist plotting. He became India’s chief nemesis. Indian government twice sought his extradition from the UK in 1992 and 1993. After its failure, they finally impounded his passport in 1993. This left Dr. Ayyub stranded in United Kingdom for about four years along with his family. However, in 1997 the British government issued him with a travel document, which he used till his death.

During the visit of British Home Secretary Jack Straw to India in May 2002, Indian Deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani in his meeting with him accused Dr. Thakur of diverting funds to the Kashmiri militants for terrorist activities. He first demanded the arrest of Dr. Thakur under the new anti-terrorist laws and when it did not work, demanded his deportation or extradition to India. The Indian Government tried to build the pressure and made repeated demands for his extradition. Moreover, the Indian intelligence agencies launched a vicious propaganda campaign in the Indian media against Dr. Thakur. Later, in August 2002 when Mr. LK Advani visited UK, he again demanded the extradition of the Dr. Ayyub Thakur. In addition, the Indian High Commission in London reportedly formed a two-member committee to follow the issue on day-to-day basis.

Mercy Universal:

In 2000, World Kashmir Freedom Movement president and its leaders formed, Mercy Universal. Mercy Universal is an International Humanitarian Organisation registered with the Charity Commission in the United Kingdom. It works for the mitigation of peoples suffering in some of the world’s poorest communities in South Asia and East Africa. It also provides humanitarian relief in the UK.

It has so far rehabilitated than 2000 people in Jammu and Kashmir . Among the beneficiaries include hundreds of widows and orphan children whose parents were killed by the Indian army. Mercy Universal carries out its work without being prejudiced by political views of its organisers and helps any body who is a victim and has suffered during the ongoing freedom struggle. However, the Indian Government has accused Mercy Universal of funding terrorist activities and arrested many its volunteers.

Family members harassed:

During the last 15 years all of his family members, relatives and friends were subjected to torture and harassment by the Indian army and its various agencies. His ancestral house in Kashmir was raided many a time and his old parents threatened.

Both his parents died in a hope to see their son, whom they hadn’t seen for more than a decade. His father, Khwaja Ghulam Ahmad Thakur died in November 2001 after a brief illness. He was 75. A year later his 73-year-old mother, Fatima Begum died in December 2002. On both the occasions, Dr. Ayyub could not see his parents or offer their last rites.

His son Muzammil Ayub Thakur is a successful London based Financial Consultant, despite his busy career he attempts to follow the footsteps of his father with the aim and dream of a liberated Kashmir. The Indian government has denied him the right to visit India for good because he has been accused of inciting hatred against Indians, is an extreme right wing Kashmiri nationalist, and has fabricated cases of being subject to physical abuse by the Indian authorities, he promotes himself on television interviews.

Death:

He died at the age of 55, in London on March 10, 2004 after protracting an illness. He was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis His funeral was held at the London Central Mosque, Regent Park, and he was laid to rest at the Garden of Peace, in Greenford, West London, close to where he had been living for many years. The Indian Government refused to allow his remains to be returned to his homeland. He is survived by a widow, a son Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur, who has followed his fathers footsteps, and two daughters.........

Indian army involved in extra-judicial killings in Kashmir: WikiLeaks

The latest leaked cables by the WikiLeaks reveals that Indian army tried to link Kashmiris with Pakistan after killing them in 2007.

A WikiLeaks cable reveals that Kashmiris were in a state of anguish and grief over extra-judicial killings during 2007. The Indian army labeled the victims as Pakistanis after killing them.

In a recently leaked cable, the website said that a Kashmiri carpenter, who was killed in 2007, was labeled as a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a resident of Multan.

The cable (ID 95785) issued on 2/8/2007 issued from the US embassy in New Delhi stated that Srinagar was once again gripped with protests on February 7th, as police officials announced that they had dug up five unmarked graves in an ongoing investigation of custodial killings.

Our interlocutors say Prime Minister Singh is influencing the investigations as a confidence building measure with Islamabad by urging security forces and the judiciary to address longstanding accusations that Indian police and security officials have tortured, killed, and disappeared thousands of Kashmiri civilians in the course of the 17 year long insurgency. While staged encounters and extrajudicial killings are by no means uncommon in India, the case has also prompted clashes in the J&K General Assembly between ruling coalition leaders Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, of the Congress Party, and former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Said’s daughter, Mehbooba, of the People’s Democratic Party.

Widespread protests began in Srinagar on January 28th after the GOI began an inquiry into the custodial death of Abdur Rahman Padder, a Kashmiri carpenter. Press reports say the carpenter was arrested on December 8th and killed in a fake encounter staged by the Special Operations Group of the J&K Police. The police officers then announced to the press that he was a Lashkar-i-Taiba terrorist from Multan, Pakistan, claiming they had recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 36 rounds of ammunition, and a grenade from his body.

Police investigators later uncovered the killing because an officer involved in the incident gave the victim’s cell phone to a “surrendered” former terrorist as a reward for information. Investigators say the police were motivated by a desire for the recognition and rewards doled out to officers who arrest or kill a suspected terrorist and that the weapons were likely planted on the victim. The Police have now widened the investigation, digging up four more unmarked graves of terrorist suspects killed in similar encounters to see if their DNA matches those of other Kashmiri civilians who recently went missing. Press reports say the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal Hans Raj — who has a particularly brutal eputation for encounter killings — as well as his Deputy and the two junior officers directly implicated in the case are being held in police custody during the pending investigation.

Ravi Nair explained further that the Prime Minister had launched a policy to end the “scorched earth” method of putting down the insurgency in Kashmir, and that this was a key confidence building measure India was putting in place in talks with Pakistan. He said there has been a reexamination of the way India deals withadvantage over China, internal army corruption, distrust of Pakistan and a desire to keep hold of advantageous territory that thousands of Indian soldiers have died protecting.

The cable stated that every time India and Pakistan came “very close” to an agreement on the Siachen issue, the prime minister of the day would be forced to back out by the Indian defence establishment, the Congress Party hardline and opposition leaders.

When the 2006 India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary talks set up a joint mechanism for discussing counter-terrorism issues ended with rumours that Pakistan had made a concession on Siachen, observers had said that the prime minister will be significantly constrained in any part of his agenda with Pakistan in the coming months, especially in the face of significant opposition from within his own party and an emboldened BJP that viewed the joint mechanism as an opportunity to portray the Congress Party as soft on terrorism.

New Delhi And State Govt. Prolonging The Detention Of Hurriyat leaders : Sayed Ali Shah Geelani

Insisting on the immediate release of detained Hurriyat leaders and works Syed Ali Geelani Chairman of Hurriyat conference said that, puppet regime is prolonging the detention of Hurriyat leaders with out any justification. This situation has made the whole valley like prison cell. The chairman of Hurriyat conference pays tributes to the martyred children and other people of the wullar tragedy on the eve of the fifth anivisory.He also felt sorry that the people who done this crime are not brought to justice till date. This is the reason that the parents of those diseased are living with sufferings. The chairman yesterdas went saidakadal srinagar where he shows sympathy to the old aged and ailing mother of Hurriyat leader Genral Mousa and pay the special blessings to his mother. In a press release the Hurriyat chairman said that the General Mousa has spent almost last twenty years in jail.During this period he suffered from various shocks.He was in jail when his father Moulana Sadiq sahib was martyred and he is also in prison till date when his old mother is near to death. The puppet regime is prolonging the detention of General Mousa..He also pays tribute to the General Mousa for his steadfastness. He also said that one of the brothers of Generaal Mousa has also got martyred in the freedom struggle of Kashmir. He himself has given immense Sacrifices during this struggle. He also suffered from numerous diseases in the detention center. By not providing the proper treatment in the jail he looks like premature aged person.The Hurriyat chairman said today no war charges is against the detained Hurriyat leader but has been detained by the puppet regime only because of draconian laws. The Hurriyat chairman also said that the general secretary of Hrriyat conference Mr. Ghulam Nabi Sumji is also detained from several years. On the other hand his daughter is suffering from deadly cancer. His health has also badly suffered and is at dangerous leavel.Instead of issuing releasing orders in favour of Mr. Sumji the puppet government has kept him imprisoned only because of taking revenge. The chairman said that another person namely manzoor ahammad khan is also detained for the last two and a half years. During this detained period his mother, wife died. Suffered from this major tragedy, still the puppet authorities did not released him so far. Instead of releasing him the puppet government is searching for the reasons to prolong his detention. The chairman also said about the Mukhtar ahammad kumar of wanihama hazratbal who has been detained this time at Udhampur jail on the other hand some days back his father Ghulam Mohammad kumar died.The deatined person was the only earning hand of the five sisters and old aged mother. His family is living in miserable conditions. Despite all these happenings the government is not releasing him so far. Due to this their family is starving. The Hurriyat chairman said that the issue of detainees is not only the political but also a human one, and all those, detained from Kashmir are political prisioners.and illegally detained without any crime. They are honorable citizens of the society. They have been kept imprisoned only just for their political ideology. And this is the serious violation of human rights. The chairman also said that the Government has chosen the path of rigidity towards the political prisoners and is not releasing those prisoners whose family members have died or suffered from deadly diseases during the detention period. Chairman of Hurriyat Conference said that even though the releas orders are issued from New Delhi, but the puppets here are so unconscious they do not bother to talk about the hot and burning issue. The Hurriyat chairman appealed to the Amnesty international and other groups that they should took the serious note of this issue and force the Indian Government to release all the detainees with no more delay.

Held Kashmir and introspections

By: Naveed Qazi

Indian-Held Kashmir has been transformed from a beautiful vale to a wretched conflict, like a despondent poet, blossoming in pain, reciting ballads of war and violence. It has been torn to pieces by the many ill facets of ghastly wars. Only failures have made a political history here, awakening the memory of death and suffering every hour amidst the countless helpless victims of the conflict.

Indian-Held Kashmir is a land of failed political conjectures, broken dreams and frenzied mistrust. Words like ‘hope’, ‘agreements’, ‘developments’ have existed here, but only as rich rhetoric, through various political commentators and stillborn leaders. Ever since the conflict intensified, Held Kashmir has become the literary obsession of various observers, historians and activists, whose dissent has been faced with strong confrontation. The scope for visionary introspection has been weakening, like a senile old man struggling to resist. As time passes, India is now attempting to completely move away from calling the Kashmir issue as any dispute at all. In recent years, governance and elections have been taken as a final resolution. Any discourse attempted is taken into consideration only under the ambit of the Indian constitution. Western countries and Indian allies are viewing the problem as silent spectators due to their geo-strategical and economic interests. Reasoned debate has also started to get eroded. Many Hindu nationalist intellectuals have been rewriting history and projecting India as a Hindu country rather than a secular country. This propaganda has concerned Pakistan about the Muslim brethren across the Line of Control. A clear and coherent public opinion needs to be institutionalised and revolutionised. The psychological attitude pertaining among Kashmiris in Indian-held territory is that they feel occupied.

There is no substitute for a resolution other than a sincere dialogue and process of self-determination. Kashmiris are frustrated due to lack of political freedom for decades and are saddled in social and economic grievances. It has made the need for a resolute resolution more pressing. Unless someone won’t recognise the depths of these wounds, it will only help in facilitating brinkmanship and belligerence. –Countercurrents

Shopian tragedy: Asiya, Neelofer die every day for us, says family

Shakeel (husband of Neelofar) and her 3 years old son praying for her on her grave at her 3rd martyrdom anniversary

The family of Neelofar and Asiya Jan, the Shopian women, who died mysteriously except for Central Bureau of Investigations CBI, says that justice has been brazenly denied.

“Two years have been completed since my wife Nelofer and sister Asiya Jan were killed and there is no day when we don’t remembered them, they die every day for us,” Shakeel Ahmad Ahanger, head of the victim family, says.

“We futilely went to every forum for justice,” he adds.

Shakeel also hit at mainstream as well as the separatist parties in Kashmir.

“While government sabotaged the entire incident, the face of those who claim to be inheritors of martyrs was also bared. Martyr dies for their family only,”

Meanwhile, the Shopian district observed strike against the alleged rape and murder of the two women in 2009.

The bodies were recovered on May 30, 2009. While people maintain that the sisters-in-law were raped and murder, the Central Bureau of Investigation claimed that the duo died of drowning.

Wullar Tragedy: 'Tell father to save me'

Published at Kashmir dispatch

Bilques was waiting for her turn, on the banks of Wullar Lake, to take a joyride when the boat capsized. Moments later she saw her sister Rehana drowning. “Her last words to me were- papas wanta mi bachaw” (Tell father to save me),” she says.

                      A picture of graveyard where 20 children are buride. Children share graves here.

The vast lake was abuzz with activity on a bright summer day. Girls running around, boys playing hide-and-seek in nearby thickets and teachers disciplining tots to sing poems of hope and brighter tomorrow, the usually silent Wullar had come to life. In the afternoon, children were goaded at a place for lunch. Almost everyone spoke of the joyride that was to be taken once the lunch over.

A Boat Assault Universal Type (BAUT) speedboat came cruising towards the banks and the children thumped the ground in jubilation. It belonged to Marcos- highly trained marine commandoes belonging to Indian Navy, who are stationed at the lake since the outbreak of insurgency in the state in 1989.

The first batch of students and teachers boarded the boat and it set for a joyride that was a “gesture of friendship” offered by the Marcos. While a group of children and their teachers got off safely from the first two rides, the small speedboat, with over 30 aboard, and which is meant for 16 fully equipped combat troops and two crew members, capsized in the midst of the lake. The negligence on part of Marcos cost 22 lives including 20 children.

Shaista, was among the children from Burning Candle School who were in the boat when it capsized. “We were almost 35 people in the boat. There was a hole in the bottom of the boat wherefrom water was continuously piercing,” she says.
Contrary to the Navy claim that the children had assembled on oneside and the boat lost balance when it took a sharp turn, she says, “Water had seeped into the boat through the hole and it lost balance and collapsed.”

Abdul Hamid, a resident of Watlab- situated on the banks of the lake says, “I was watching these kids from other side of the lake. They were very happy. Once they reached at centre, boat collapsed.” He adds the boat ‘didn’t take any steep turn’.

Locals here say, these deaths could have been prevented if men from Navy would not have stopped them. “When kids shouted for help people from all adjacent areas gathered. But Navy force didn’t allow us to interfere. Despite that we rescued 6 kids. If Navy would not have stopped us we could have saved more,” says Hamid’s friend Mohammad Ramzan.

FAMILIES KEPT IN DARK:

“I compelled my husband to permit kids for an excursion”

Classmates, friends and siblings died in the boat capsize in Wullar on May 30, 2006. Not far away from the Handwara market in a desolate alley is the house of Aesha Bano, who lost her 6-year-old son Mehraj-ud-din and 10-year-old daughter Shameema in the tragedy.

With tears rolling down her eyes she regrets her decision to send her children on picnic despite their father opposing the decision. “I compelled my husband to give permission to the kids for an excursion,” she says amid sobs.
He did not allow, but, Ayseha joined the chorus with her children and made him agree.

“The teachers of Burning Candle Public School assured that they will not take kids to a place where there was a water body,” she says.

Sources say that the school authorities changed their mind after Navy offered them the joyrides as a "friendship gesture". Instead of going to picnic to shrine of a saint in Reshvoor, they headed to Watlab on the banks of Wullar.
“If I would have come to know earlier that school authorities are going for excursion under Indian Navy. I would have never sent my kids with them,” she says adding “It seems that Indian navy and school authorities hadpreplanned for the murder of 20 kids.”

Like Ayesha, Farooq Ahmad who lost his two daughters was not aware of that excursion was taken in collaboration with the Navy. He was also kept in dark about the spot chosen for excursion. The lie cost him his daughters Samreena a student of 9th class and Suraya who was in 2nd class.

“School authorities assured me that they will take kids to Baba Shukur Din Shrine. But notwithstanding their promise they took our kids to Watlab,” he says.

The pain keeps on manifesting for Farooq and his family. “After one month Samreena’s teacher gave me my daughter’s picture and told me that she has clicked it half an hour before this episode” he says.

Had it not been for the local fishermen, Farooq would have lost his third daughter, Shaista. “She was also among the children who drowned but was rescued by local fishermen,” he says.

GRAVEYARD AND JUSTICE

Names of children who drowned inscribed on a stone

All the children have been buried in a graveyard near Handwara where smiling roses ornament the graves. “The children share graves here. Brothers have been buried together, somewhere three children are buried in same grave,” says the caretaker.

Not surprisingly though, the government is yet to initiate action against the Navy personnel indicted by a judicial commission for drowning the children five years ago.

Following massive protests across the Valley, the state government, led by then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, had ordered judicial inquiry in the case.

The inquiry officer, Tariq Naqashbandi, blamed four Navy officials—Lt K S Nehra, officer in-charge naval Det (Marcos), Watlab, Krishan Khulvi boat operator, Raj Ram and Ganishan—for negligence in the tragedy.

Naqashbandi had recommended that criminal proceedings be launched against the four Navy officials and principal of the school for negligence, which resulted in the tragedy.

Pertinently, then Navy Chief, Admiral Arun Prakash, is on record having said that no one from the Navy would be spared if indicted.

The Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had said that he would write to Naval authorities to initiate action against guilty personnel.

In the hearts of its survivors the tragedy is still fresh. “I also boarded the boat, but my Didi (sister) brought me down saying that it is dangerous to travel in it as it was already overloaded,” recalls Sufiya, who lost her two sisters in the tragedy.

The Mute Spectators, the Hell lickers (Abdullah's)

By Shoaib Kashmirie

Kashmir,illegally Occupied for 63 years, has now buried at least 230 of its people in the last 358 days under brutal military curfew and the spiral continues. Humanity ripped apart and helpless kashmiris left to face the wolves. Nations bear testimony but stand mute spectators to this carnage.Amid all this melancholy,a posse of remorseless souls at the helm of affairs unperturbed,unruffled witnessing this dance of death with sheer delight. Unarguably, the ABDULLAHS (Sheikh, Farooq, Omar) are the worst enemies of kashmiris.Their "LIBIDO" for power is of rampaging magnitude.The Lust for power has blinded them and they are unable to read the writing on wall.

"HELL LICKERS" a term that specifically suits the abdullahs as they are the perpetrators and poor kashmiris 'the victims'. An abdullah wastes no chance to demean the people who have enabled his ascent calling them goons and adding insult to their injuries by nullifyin their sacrifices saying let bygones be bygones when queried by a journo. They've sold their conscience and there's not even a bit of contrition. They've always compromised on our dignity to appease their masters and misguided us to a " cul de sac ". But the struggle has begun and the fight is on, to free ourselves from shackles of bondage and to alleviate the suffering of the aggrieved.

© Shoaib Kashmirie

Draconian Law prevailing in our state (Jammu & Kashmir)

JAMMU & KASHMIR PUBLIC SAFETY ACT, 1978

The Act promulgated in 1978 (amended in 1987 and 1990) empowers the State government to detain a person without trial for two years under the pretext of maintenance of public order. The Act fell short of the recognized norms of justice, such as equality before law, the right of the accused of appearance before a Magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, fair trial in public, access to counsel, cross examination of the witnesses, appeal against conviction, protection from being tried under retrospective application of law, etc. Even the provisions of the Act, though already unsatisfactory, have been consistently violated. The detainees are not informed of the reasons of their arrest and they are kept in custody for a much longer period of time than stipulated in the Act. They are not allowed to meet their relati

ves and counsels. The amendment of 1990 extended its operation beyond the State, enabling the State machinery to keep the detainees in the jails of India, outside the State. Under Section 22 of the Act, any legal proceeding against officials for acts “done in good faith” are also disallowed.The law has been widely used against the innocent Kashmiris as well as political opponents. Thousands of people have over the years been detained under the Act.

JAMMU & KASHMIR DISTURBED AREAS ACT, 1990

Under the Act, the whole or part of the State can be declared disturbed area by the Central Government or the Governor. The whole valley of Kashmir and two Districts of Jammu have since been declared disturbed areas. An official of the level of Head Constable is allowed to use force or shoot (and kill) under the pretext of maintaining the public order. The Act gives the police extraordinary powers of arrest and detention. It provided a cover to the state machinery for indiscriminate and unprovoked firing at peaceful and unarmed demonstrations, extra judicial killings and destroying the property of Kashmiris on suspicion. Moreover, Section 6 gives legal immunity to persons acting under this Act; no suit or prosecution can be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the government against any person in respect of anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers conferred by the Act.

TERRORIST AND DISRUPTIVE ACTIVITIES ACT (TADA) 1990 :

The Act enforced in 1985 (amended in 1987) gives security forces and armed forces special powers for use of force, especially the amendment of 1987 made it tougher. It was widely used for unauthorized administrative detention without formal charges or trial for upto one year. Under the Act, involvement in, or preparation for, disruptive activities attracts sever punishment upto life imprisonment. Arrests can be made even on suspicion of committing “disruptive activities”, broadly defined as “any action taken, whether by act by speech or through any other media ….. which questions, disrupts or is intended to disrupt, whether directly or indirectly, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, or which is intended to bring about or support any claim…… for the cession of any part of India from the Union……” Since the law gives special powers to the security forces in the use of force, arrest and detention, it was extensively used in the occupied Kashmir. Even after lapse of the Act in 1995, the cases are filed under this Act, which provides that it may be applied to preceding trials in various courts and to persons, who may be tried in connection with the offences alleged to have been committed prior to 1995. The regime of the occupied Kashmir acknowledged that it held 772 persons under the TADA. Still many more are in Indian jails, outside the State.

This law also fails to meet the international standard of fundamental principles of justice, which requires that the detainees should have a fair and prompt trial and they should be informed of the reasons of arrest. The defence counsel is not permitted to see witnesses for the prosecution, who are kept behind screen while testifying in court. Besides, confessions extracted under duress are permitted as evidence.

THE ARMED FORCES (JAMMU & KASHMIR) SPECIAL POWERS ACT, 1990

The Armed Forces (Jammu & Kashmir) Special Powers Ordinance, introduced in July, 1990, was later enacted by the Parliament of India and enforced on 10th September, 1990. When certain areas are declared to be “disturbed”, the army and paramilitary forces are granted sweeping powers under Section 4 (C) of this Act.The armed forces can be used in aid of civil authorities and even a non commissioned officer can search any place, stop/seize any vehicle, fire at any person (and kill), or arrest him even on the basis of suspicion with no obligation to inform him of the grounds thereof. It gives the Indian security forces sweeping powers that facilitate arbitrary arrests and detention and extra judicial executions as well as destruction of property.The provisions of the black law are further violated in the occupied Kashmir by the security forces. Under the law, an arrested person is to be handed over to the nearest police station. But it is seldom done. Besides, the armed forces personnel are supposed to act as and when requested by the civilian authorities. In other words, the former should work under the direction of the latter. However, factually the security forces are inflicting atrocities on the Kashmiris without informing the civil administration. The State government has proved ineffective in controlling the Indian security forces, who have unleashed a reign of terror in occupied territory. The Act legitimizes barbarism in the State, as under Section 7, the security forces are given an immunity from prosecution for any act committed by them..

PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT (POTA), 2002

The Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTA), promulgated on 25th October, 2001 was initially rejected by the Upper House, when presented for enactment. However, it was passed at the joint session of the Indian Parliament on March 26, 2002. Though the law was for the whole country, its main focus was occupied Kashmir.POTA equipped the Indian forces with extra ordinary powers. Under the law, any act committed with a lethal weapon was termed terrorist act. The offences included even inviting support for an alleged “terrorist organisation”, addressing a gathering of sympathizers (of a terrorist organisation) and arranging, helping or assisting to arrange a meeting in which support for any “terrorist organisation” or its activities is expressed. The properties of the alleged terrorists, terrorist organisations and their sympathies would be seized. The suspects could be detained for 3 months without framing charges against them and for another 3 months, if allowed by a special Judge.The Government officials admitted that excesses had regularly been committed. A long list of illegal arrests and unlawful killings has been documented by the human rights organisations. This black law was used mainly in occupied Kashmir. Ninety Nine point nine percent arrested under this Act were Muslims. Owing to strong protests and denunciation from the world leaders and organisations, the Act has now been withdrawn.

UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) AMENDMENT ORDINANCE 2004

The Ordinance was passed by the Indian President in 2004 and was implemented forthwith. It has since been promulgated as Act. It again provides extraordinary powers to armed forces and other law enforcement agencies, similar to those previously provided by the POTA.In addition to the above-mentioned measures, the laws and ordinances regarding other disturbed parts of India can also be applied in occupied Kashmir.

THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT (NSA)

Under the NSA, a person can be detained without charge or trial for upto one year to prevent him from acting in a manner prejudicial to state security, the maintenance of public order or relations with a foreign power.

OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT (OSA)

Under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), the Government may restrict publication of sensitive stories. But the Government interprets this broadly to suppress criticism of its policies.

NEWSPAPERS INCITEMENTS TO OFFENCES ACT

The Newspapers Incitements to Offences Act, 1971 remains in effect in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the Act, a District Magistrate may prohibit the publishing of material resulting in “incitement to murder” or “any act of violence”.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

The Criminal Procedure Code provides for an open trial in most cases, but it allows exceptions in proceedings involving official secret trials in which statements prejudicial to the safety of the State might be made, or under provisions of special security legislation. The authorities enjoy special powers to search and arrest without a warrant. If required, the public assemblies can be banned and a curfew can also be imposed.

INDIAN TELEGRAPH ACT

The Indian Telegraph Act authorizes the surveillance of communications, including monitoring telephone conversations and intercepting personal mail, in case of public emergency or “in the interest of the public safety or tranquility”.Besides the afore mentioned draconian laws, the following are also in force: -

i. Enemy Agent Ordinance 1948.

ii. The Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance, 1948.

iii. Prevention of Unlawful Activities, 1963.

iv. Prevention of Subversion and Sabotage Act, 1965.

WORLD OPINION

The TADA gives a license to kill. (Amnesty International). The powers of the TADA and the Armed Forces Special Power Act are incompatible with the state obligation to uphold and protect human rights, in particular the right to life. (UN Human Rights Committee). Wide powers of arrest granted under TADA, combined with the absence of fundamental legal safeguards for detainees, create a climate, which encourages abuse of power and facilitates illegal and secret detention. (Amnesty International)

1) The TADA has come to represent a blatant and wide spread violation of civil rights. (Daily The Indian Express)

2) This organisation has not come to know of a single case of disappearance in Indian Held Kashmir in which the perpetrators have been brought to justice. (Amnesty International)

3) Thousand of allegations of torture and deaths in custody have been reported in Jammu & Kashmir since early 1990. (Amnesty International Report, 1995)

4) “Access to redress for victims of human rights violations, a right guaranteed under international law, is being denied to victims in Jammu & Kashmir”. (Amnesty International – May, 1997)

5) Thousands of political persons were detained without charge or trial under special legislations such as TADA, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act, which lacked vital legal safeguards. (Amnesty International Report, 1997)

6 ) Many provisions of TADA contravene important international human rights standards, especially the right to liberty and security, to a fair trial, freedom of expression and the right not to be tortured. (Amnesty International)

7) India should release all detained Kashmiri leaders and political workers. The draconian law, the Public Safety Act should be annulled, if it cannot be so amended as to conform to the standard of protection of human rights. (Amnesty International – May, 2001)

8) The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act violates provisions of International human rights law, including the right to life, the right to remedy and the rights to be free from arbitrary deprivation of liberty and from torture and cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. (Amnesty International)

9) The continuance of a system characterized by extra ordinary law created to fight the insurgency, like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Public Safety Act and the POTA, has “produced an environment of impunity and lawlessness”. A systematic pattern of abuse emerges – the Armed forces do not disclose, indeed they conceal their identity, no record is maintained of who is conducting the arrest. The Armed forces do not respond to summon from the courts even in habeas corpus petitions. The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir has been forced to close hundreds of cases without even finding what happened to disappeared persons for non cooperation of the Armed forces. (Tapan Bose – The Committee of Initiative on Kashmir)

10) The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) continued to be used to detain political opponents and members of minority populations. The lapsed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act continued to be used to arrest people in Jammu and Kashmir by linking them to cases filed before 1995. Preventive arrest and detention provisions contained in other security laws as well as in the Code of Criminal Procedure were also misused against political and human rights activists. (Amnesty International Report, 2004)

11) The Indian government’s failure to account for these abuses and take rigorous action against those members of its forces responsible for murder, rape and torture amounts to a policy of condoning human rights violations by the security forces.

12 ) Among the worst of these violations have been the summary executions of hundreds of detainees in the custody of the security forces in occupied Kashmir. Such killings are carried out as a matter of policy.

14 ) Operating as secret illegal army, have been the state – sponsored paramilitary groups. Many of these groups have been responsible for grave human rights abuses, including summary executions, torture and illegal detention as well as election – related intimidation of voters. (Human Rights Watch Asia, Report, 2005)

15 ) Indian troops continue to use extra judicial killings as a method to suppress insurgency in Kashmir. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported 136 deaths in police custody and 1357 deaths in judicial custody during the period of January to March, 2004. Besides, the Indian authorities generally did not report encounter deaths in Jammu & Kashmir to the NAHRC. (State Department Report, 2005)

Complete shutdown in Shopian town

Srinagar, May 31 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown was observed in Shopian town for the second consecutive to commemorate the death anniversary of two Kashmiri women, Aasiya and Neelofer, who were molested and murdered by men in uniform in 2009.

All shops, government and private offices and banks remained closed while traffic was off the road on Monday. The occupation authorities had deployed large number of Indian policemen and paramilitary troops to prevent people from holding demonstrations in the town.

The incident had sparked a wave of protests across the Kashmir Valley. Shopian had observed strike for 47 consecutive days to press for the identification and punishment of the perpetrators.

On the other hand, the police have arrested in-charge Police Post Pul Doda in connection with the harassment of a college girl who jumped into Chenab river on Sunday after she was terrorized by the policemen. The dead body of the girl was yet to be traced.

Source: Kashmir Media Service

Girl in occupied Kashmir jumps into river after being harassed by Indian cops

A college student jumped into the Chenab river in Doda district of occupied Jammu and Kashmir after she was harassed by police for having tea with a young man who studied with her, locals alleged on Monday.

The body of the girl, in her 20s, has still not been recovered. Rashida Bano was having tea with Najab Din at a tea stall on the bank of Chenab in Pul Doda town, some 165 km from Jammu, on Sunday.

An assistant sub-inspector was suspended on charges of not handling the matter in a professional manner.
According to the locals, a Special Police Officer (SPO) - who is not a regular police employee but works on consolidated pay - on reaching the tea stall started questioning them.

Locals say they were embarrassed over questioning as the cop used indecent language. 

They repeatedly told the police that they are just friends but police personnel took them to the police station and informed their parents.

According to the police, father of the girl said that he will come to the police station to take back her daughter. 

Reports suggest that though the police was satisfied that they were just friends and decided to let them go, the girl was terribly upset over the incident especially when her father was informed. 

She left the police station and jumped into the near by river Chenab. Her body couldn't be fished out till early Monday morning.

People in the area held protests against the police after the incident. 

Last year, in neighbouring Kishtwar district, two girls committed suicide by jumping into the river after they were questioned by the police for sitting with their class mates on the banks of the river.

Source: Hindustan Times

On Kashmir India acts as a police state, not as a democracy

By Mirza Waheed

Many years ago, I met two journalists from India in London and we found ourselves talking about Kashmir. Mostly, they listened patiently to my impassioned tale of what goes on, but the moment I touched upon the brutal counter-insurgency methods employed by the Indian security apparatus in the disputed territory – among them notorious "catch-and-kill" operations to execute suspected militants – they looked incredulous, made a quick excuse and left. Later, I learned that at least one of them believed that Kashmiris liked to exaggerate the excesses of the Indian armed forces.

In the reaction of those two men, I had witnessed the frightening success of India's policy of denial and misrepresentation on Kashmir. India's decision to censor the Economist last week, following the publication of a map that shows the disputed borders of Kashmir, represents two unsurprising but ominous things: that the country's age-old intransigence over Kashmir still runs deep; and its willingness to curb freedom of speech over what it sees as sensitive matters of national interest. On Kashmir India continues to behave as a police state, not as the champion of democracy and freedom that it intends to be.

There is nothing astonishing or new in this. For decades, India has not only been unwilling to solve one of the world's most tragic conflicts but has scuttled any attempt at meaningful discourse on the issue, both internationally and within the country. The ultimately pointless attempt at censorship by asking the magazine to paste stickers on a representation of areas controlled by India, Pakistan and China is, sadly, in line with its inflexible and deeply flawed Kashmir policy. To come good on its insistence that "Kashmir is an integral part of India" – and it does lash out at any attempt to suggest otherwise – it maintains the world's largest military presence in a single region, to suppress the revolt that erupted against its rule in 1989. An uprising that continues in the form of a civilian resistance.

Last year, in what we now remember as Kashmir's bloody summer, its paramilitaries and police killed more than a hundred protesters, most of them young men and schoolchildren. Among those killed was Sameer Rah, a nine-year-old boy from Srinagar, who was bludgeoned to death and his body dumped by a kerb. The image of his bruised, purple body is now permanently etched in the collective consciousness of Kashmiris at home and across the world, and may haunt India's political and intellectual elites for a long time. In response to this brutalisation of a people – the Kashmir valley remained in virtual siege for weeks – a cogent narrative of what I call "new dissent" began to evolve in Kashmir and India, scripted by Kashmiris themselves and by some of India's bravest public intellectuals, writers and journalists.

However, both the central government and its clients in the state tried everything to suppress this new wave of dissent; they introduced draconian measures to silence the voice of Kashmiris and their supporters in Delhi. TV channels were forced off air, newspapers were not allowed to print for weeks, text messaging was banned, and later on, in India's capital, a lower court even charged Arundhati Roy with sedition. But the urge to report to the world what was unfolding in Kashmir was ultimately unstoppable. Kashmiri youth turned to social media to get the word out.

And it did get out, aided by India's fascinatingly diverse intelligentsia and those sections of the Indian media that have of late started to look at Kashmir with new understanding and empathy, and not through the disingenuous prism of national interest.

The Economist's map on Kashmir – which must have received many more page views than had it not been declared contraband – contains nothing that contests historical facts or misrepresents ground reality. Essentially, the magazine has produced a graphical account of geopolitical status in the region – namely, Kashmir is a disputed territory, with India and Pakistan as the main contestants, but Kashmiris as the central party as it is their future that has been a point of dispute. A dispute that the UN recognises as such in its charter of 1948 – and in its maps. I have found maps produced by the UN to be the most accurate and impartial.

When, and why, do states censor maps? Mostly when the operating principle seems to be denial and obfuscation. For years, the Indian state has attempted to delegitimise people's aspirations in Kashmir, either by raising the bogey of Islamism or lumping together the challenge to its authority in Kashmir with the US-led war on terror. For most of the 1990s and the early years of the new millennium it succeeded. Ironically, as a consequence of the emergence of "new India" and the burgeoning of the country's affluent middle classes, the Economist – a magazine previously considered the preserve of business elites – is now selling more copies in India. It is seen as influential, and capable of altering opinion – hence the kneejerk reaction to the map. The Indian government is doing a huge disservice to its democratic credentials by trying to confiscate the truth about one of the world's most tragic, intractable and dangerous conflicts

Source: The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk)

MOLESTATION OF WOMANHOOD (NEELOFAR WRITES FROM HER GRAVE)

By Koshur Mazloom

Just two years have passed by. It was 29 of May 2009. My body has not yet turned into the dust in the grave. My bones are still aching. Blood on my face has not yet dried up. My beloved Aasiya is still having those tears in her stony eyes. I still remember how beasts tore apart our chaste bodies. I still remember how those savages pounced upon our modesty and trampled upon our honour. They were filled with lust and hate. I still remember how they were enjoying and were deriving sadistic pleasure out of our helplessness. Our weakness was our Womanhood. We struggled till our last bit of energy. Our fatigue from the struggle became their strength. I still remember how frightening it was. I could hear angels screaming in agony, with us. I could hear my voice had gone hoarse and I was only waiting for my end. No one came to our rescue. Aasiya was calling me for help but I myself was helpless. I was crying, “Ha Myanii Khodayoo” (O! My beloved God) and she was screaming, “Katuoo Chukhh Myanii Babboo” (Where are you? my father). But savages were relentlessly obliterating our chaste bodies with their savage lust.

I was already pregnant by two months and was so happy for becoming a second time mother. My toddler son Suzanne was waiting for me at home. My husband Shakeel had called me up just few minutes back and was worried for us. I had told him, not to worry as we had already walked halfway towards our home from our orchard where we had gone for the work. I did not know the cruel fate is awaiting us in the shape of some beasts wearing Indian uniform. As we passed by their camp, they stopped us and took us forcibly inside the vehicle which was parked in front of their camp. They pounced upon us like hyenas, tearing apart our flesh. Our helplessness was our only companion. Our faith was our crime and our womanhood was our punishment. Even Satan would have wept at our plight but those beasts did not show any mercy. They were establishing their supremacy over our possessed bodies. They were plundering us like barbarians used to plunder the conquered lands. After they satisfied their wild lust, they delivered some humanity on us. They just killed us and set our souls free. They saved us from living the lives of humiliation and burden. Had they left us alive, we would have cursed them for letting us to live.

Then they threw our mauled bodies into the pristine waters of a nearby stream only to get rid of their own crime. Waters in that stream were not enough to touch our molested flesh. Stream was too shallow to drown our bodies. We were left there in the stream in dead of the night. That night was too long and too dark. And when the chirping of birds started and skies above us started to become blue for those looking for us, Shakeel along with my brother found us lying dead on those lifeless boulders. Aasiya was lying some distance away from me and she was left there with an uncovered body. Shakeel, covered her body with his shirt and we were lifted from there. That day sky did not look like the way it used to look to me. It had turned red and every human face around looked black. We were placed on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital for conducting what they say an 'autopsy'. They wanted to determine whether we were raped or not? How pathetic. We were again subjected to shame. They dissected the un- dissected parts of our bodies, took out the samples of our molested flesh and confirmed our rape. But then the henchmen of molesters in the uniform came with an order for those who were doing the autopsy. They told them to change their verdict and call our death, a case of simple drowning in shallow knee deep waters. How shameful. Doctors complied with the orders from the above and declared, whatever was dictated to them. This exasperated our shame. Our blood drenched faces were not enough for them, so they stabbed us again in the heart. How can power and lust be so cruel? How can those who have come into the existence from the wombs of women like me, be so unremorseful. And some of them even worship women in temples and consider them goddesses. I wonder after tormenting our souls with misery and dread, those beasts must have visited the temples of Durga or Vaishno Devi with donations and thankfulness for saving them from getting exposed. Some of them even might have taken a dip in the waters of river Ganga to purify their sinful souls from the burden of crime. Crime which they had left to drown in another stream which also eventually culminates into the same sea which the waters of Ganges also end up into. I wonder how our blood shall forgive their crime. No wonder why rivers of Kashmir do not pass through their lands.

After wrapping the outrage of our chastity in the package of lies, a hell broke loose all around. People were agitated in flash anger and chanted high pitched false slogans of revenge. One shame was that our honour was trampled on with Jackboots of suppression and the other one was that we were raped again after our death. If only dead could speak, I would have yelled at their faces, "how dare you molest us again and again". That day they did not molest me only, they also molested my unborn child living in my womb. We were taken in a procession towards our graves after someone from the puppet administration pacified the restive public with a promise of usual 'impartial' probe. We were buried in the soil which gave our bodies a soothing relief. But that was not enough; they exhumed us from our graves after few days again to conduct another 'autopsy' under the supervision of some doctors from Delhi which they claimed were ‘impartial’. They raped us again that day. Result was a usual pack of lies only to shield those vultures who represent the Indian state in our gloomy nation. Our death was again confirmed as a natural case of drowning. Not so strange anymore.

This is not a shame for only those who shredded our modesty to smithereens to satisfy their lunatic lust, but this is even a bigger shame for those who shielded the criminals in uniform. This is a shame for those who claim to be the vanguards of Indian democracy and justice. Omar Abdullah, the Indian ruler of this land tried his best to convert our rape and murder into an ordinary case of death. He manipulated with medical findings, bullied those who were speaking the truth, fudged the autopsy reports, and arrested those who were protesting against this rape of justice. These thugs left no stone unturned to shield their henchmen. Indian democracy again raised its ugly head in Kashmir and the person heading that farce in Kashmir revealed his real dreadful identity. He showed his scornful indifference and reminded us that, Slaves should not yearn for justice. He became a compatriot of molesters all willfully only to satiate and safeguard his lust for power.

Since this case has been closed down now by those who themselves committed the crime of compliance with the crime, I do not want you to agitate and beg them to open it again. I know justice cannot be delivered as long as you are dead in the slumber of life. I just want you not to spectate anymore again, when some other Neelofar and Aasiya would become the objects of vengeful assertiveness of hegemonic brutality. Oppressors always would want you to be remindful of your inferiority of being possessed by a frenzied army of brutal occupation. Do not become collaborators of their crime by behaving like a herd of sheep in the slaughterhouse of a butcher. Today it was us; tomorrow your turn will also come to experience the sharpness of the butcher’s knife on your throats. If you want to live a life of dignity, then do not forget our pain. I know, you all are too much preoccupied with your lives. You are in slumber of your meaningless lives. You cannot change anything. I wish if dead could come out of their graves to fight for the freedom of their living companions. But dead cannot come alive. But I still wish to see a change as I have left my innocent lad Suzanne there to suffer with you. I hope he will not live a meaningless life of shame.

Koshur Mazloom © 2011

Mass Grave of Sikhs Killed in November 1984 Discovered in Jammu

A Mass Grave has been discovered in District Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir where 16 Sikhs were mercilessly murdered by crushing their heads on November 1, 1984. The victims were inside Gurudwara Singh Sabha Talwara colony when the attackers came for them on November 1, 1984, dragged them out and murdered them by crushing their heads with stones and rocks.

According to the 26 years old FIR and other official documents excavated by AISSF and SFJ, 16 Sikhs who were attacked and killed on November 1, 1984 in Talwara Colony, Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir were mostly employees working at nearby Salar Dam. On November 1, 1984 , a group of attackers came to the Gurudwara Singh Sabha Talwara Colony where the victims had taken shelter. The attackers got hold of the victims and then tortured to death 16 of them by crushing and grinding their heads with rocks and stones.

AISSF & SFJ announced that they will file a writ petition before Jammu and Kashmir High Court against the Government’s inaction against killing of 16 deaths. It is a matter of grave concern that “despite the evidence and filing of FIR, the killing and murder of 16 Sikhs in Reasi Jammu was not even investigated let alone prosecuted”, stated attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Legal Advisor to Sikhs For Justice

According to Karnail Singh Peermohammad President AISSF, not only the killing of Sikhs in Reasi was brutal and ruthless but the continuous denial of justice is also equally ruthless. Just like the case of Hondh-Chillar Mass Grave, AISSF and SFJ will also take action in the case of Reasi killing by approaching the High Court and by seeking justice for the Sikh victims, added Peermohammad.

AISSF and SFJ released the copies of F.I.R filed 26 years ago and the copies of other documents along with the list of the 16 Sikhs who were killed on November 1984 at Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir

List of Sikhs Killed:

(1) Ratan Singh Son Of Chetan Singh Foremen,Village Mastuana Post Of Badala Bangar,Gurdaspur, Punjab

(2) Mukhtyar Singh Son Of Preetam Singh Post Office Rosi Kehla Badala Bangar,Gurdaspur, Punjab

(3) Heera Singh Son Of Mukhtar Singh Jwala Flour Mil Bhai Gurnampura Street Shekhwa Wali Amritsar(Punjab)

(4) Ranjit Singh Son Of Sadu Singh Foreman.Village Bartiya Postoffice Raowal

agarh,Nagar Solan Himachal Pardesh

(5) Manjit Singh Son Of Sohan Singh Electricians Village Lidopur Post Office Kahnowal Gurdaspur(Punjab)

(6) Satnam Singh S/O Bachan Singh Telephone Inspector,Village Nawan,Post Office Babehali Gurdaspur(Punjab)

(7) Giyan Singh S/O Amar Singh Vill.Hargowala, Postoffice And Distt.Hoshairpur(Punjab)

(8) Rashpal Singh Vill.Mansak Distt Hoshairpur Punjab

(9) Tersaim Singh S/O Charan Singh Atwal,Vill And Distt Thahto Chak,Teh-Tarntarn,Distt Amritsar(Punjab)

(10) Beer Singh S/O Suriya Vill And Postoffice Galgalri,Distt Gurdaspur(Punjab)

(11) Resham Singh S/O Mohan Singh Vill And Teh-Nusapanna Dist- Hoshairpur(Punjab)

(12) Ratan Singh S/O Lal Singh Dyanpura Poatoffice Narula Gurdaspur

(13) Amar Singh S/O Ranjit Singh Vill And Post Office Raipur Madan,Tahal Bansal ,Dist-Himachal Pradesh

(14) Surinder Singh S/O Preetam Singh Matrala,Post Office Bahat Dist-Gurdaspur

(15) Bhupinder Singh S/O Jaswant Singh,Vill-Singhpura Baramulla(Kashmir)

(16) Janak Singh Poni Shayad Parakh Jammu