Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 13: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and J&K UT administration within four weeks on the complaints filed by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo a Minority Human Rights activist and Vijay Raina, Sarpanch in the area of South Kashmir district Kulgam who have alleged that despite repeated requests for providing security to Sarpanchs, no action has been taken by the UT Administration and the Central Government in this regard.
In their complaints before the NHRC, New Delhi they have also alleged that there have been open threats of intimidation and killing of minorities (Hindus) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Sarpanchs in Jammu and Kashmir are feeling insecure and living in intense fear.
In a communiqué to MHA and Chief Secretary J&K, UT the NHRC has made it clear that in case the report was not received within the stipulated time, the Commission will be constrained to invoke coercive process under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for personal appearance of the concerned authority.
On a complaint filed by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, minority human rights activist, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi and whose case has been registered by the NHRC along with a complaint of Vijay Raina, Sarpanch in the area of Kulgam, Kashmir the NHRC has send a communiqué to MHA and J&K UT Government yesterday.
In its communiqué the NHRC has mentioned that the threat for finishing all the minorities has been already issued by all the leading terrorist organizations such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, etc. The complainant is seeking intervention of the Commission for direction to concerned authorities for providing security arrangement for all Sarpanchs and if the same is not possible, at least the concerned authorities should try to induce sense of fearlessness among Sarpanchs by other means.
The main complaint filed by Chrungoo also includes demand to issue directions to the State to institute “Special Crimes Tribunal” in consonance with the decision of NHRC in June 1999 describing that acts akin to genocide were committed against Kashmiri Pandits and a genocide type design may exist against them.
The complainant has asked for a thorough investigation into the excesses committed against non-Muslim minorities in the erstwhile State of J&K by the terrorists and radical fundamentalists.