Judges to probe Kashmir deaths

By AGENCIES

Hundreds of detentions under controversial Act also to be reviewed

SRINAGAR: The state government of India's Jammu and Kashmir has ordered a judicial inquiry into the deaths of more than a dozen killings allegedly by the government forces that have triggered massive street protests and violence in the of Kashmir valley.

The valley has been wracked by angry demonstrations since June 11, when a 17-year-old boy died after being hit by a police tear gas shell. Since then another 16 people, many of them teenagers, have been killed.

Two retired judges will "inquire into all the 17 incidents... in which fatalities had occurred on account of action by the security forces," a government statement said.

The judges have been asked to submit to the government their findings within three months, said the statement issued late Tuesday in an apparent move to calm public anger.

Authorities also asked a group of officials to review the detention of hundreds of people under the Public Safety Act for participating in anti-India protests, a state government official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak with media.

Human rights activists say the act passed in 1978 is draconian as it allows government forces to detain people for up to two years without trial.

Meanwhile, shops, businesses and schools shut again in Indian Kashmir on Wednesday after a day's break from a strike and thousands of armed police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled largely deserted streets. They had asked people to stay at home to prevent another outbreak of protests against Indian rule.

Separatist groups have told people to observe strikes to protest Indian rule on five days this week, excluding Tuesday and Saturday to allow people to stock up on food and other essentials.

Masarat Alam, a top separatist politician, issued a video appeal from his hide-out in the region, asking Indian soldiers to defy government orders and refrain from acting against Kashmiri protesters.

The video message was handed to media offices on Tuesday by Alam's supporters.

Police say Alam has been holding news conferences in secret locations in Srinagar and also issuing statements.

He has been in hiding to evade arrest.

"We appeal to you to participate in civil disobedience against the orders of the Indian armed forces and the government of India that make you brutalize our men, women and children," Alam said.

The tension in the Himalayan region - divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both - is reminiscent of the late 1980s, when protests against New Delhi's rule sparked an armed conflict. Since then, more than 68,000 people have been killed, mostly civilians, in the conflict.

Separatist politicians and militants reject Indian sovereignty over Kashmir and want to carve out a separate homeland or merge with predominantly Muslim Pakistan.

Comments

UBAID

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They are appointed by Indian authorities to probe recent killings in Kashmir.Do you think the truth will come out? After all Indian patriotism is a dangerous disease.They call killers Jawans of India and someone is instigating this. In short they are chosen judges like chosen people of Israel.

NOROUDEEN

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India is becoming more like Israelis conducting their own investigations for the atrocities committed by its army, not taking responsibilites of its army or international concerns. you are aways affected by the company you keep, in this case Israel.

MDS

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Pakistanis very conveniently compare and relate Kashmir and Palestine. This is just to eyewash arab world to get their sympathy and support. There are more muslims in India than in Pakistan and they are happily living and enjoying all equal constitutional rights. So India is not Israel and India's arab friends understand this very well.

UBAID

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MDS,not true.Muslims in India and Kashmir are living like orphans.

MALIK

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MDS The situation in Kashmir is like Palestine ,and why not India had ties with Israelis , They have trained them how to deal with situations like protests etc , India is following Isriel . Dont compare muslims in other states of india with kashmiris , Kashmiris are killed when they protest peacefully , police and CRPF open fire on innocent kashmiri people . While in rest of India they dont do that , May Allaha give Kashmiris freedom , Ameen
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