Kunan poshpora mass rape case

Habibullah breaks silence: Govt deleted key portions of my report on J&K mass rape case

Wajahat Habibullah, chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, has said that the government "deleted important portions of his confidential report" on the Kunan poshpora mass rape case in which he had recommended a police probe, upgradation in the level of investigation, entrusting the case to a gazetted police officer and seeking an order from the 15 Corps Commander to ensure Army cooperation in the probe, reprts Muzamil Jaleel on Indian Express.

Habibullah was Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir when troops of 4 Raj Rifles allegedly raped 23 women in the village during a cordon-and-search operation on the night of February 23-24, 1991. The government used his report to give a clean chit to the Army.

More than two decades later, the mass rape case reared its head again last month after a Judicial Magistrate in Kupwara refused to entertain a police case closure report and ordered "further investigation by an officer not below the rank of a Senior Superintendent of Police" and its completion within three months.

"The Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara had received reports from the villagers of Konan that a mass rape had been committed in the village on the night of 23/24 February during cordon-and-search operations conducted by elements of the 4 Raj Rifles. He (Deputy Commissioner) had visited the spot on 5th March and according to his preliminary investigations, it appeared to him prima facie that an offence of monstrous proportions had been committed,'' Habibullah's confidential report stated.

"Consequently, on being approached by the DG, Police, J&K, the Corps Commander deputed Brigadier H K Sharma, Commander 19 Arty Brigade, to visit the village and report. The Brigadier made some local enquiries on 10/3 and came to the conclusion that the report (of mass rape) was baseless. His report does not, however, discuss in detail why he has altogether dismissed the statements made before him by a number of village women," the report stated.

Latest Human rights situation in Kashmir

---

Srinagar: Palhalan, nearly 30 km away from the Srinagar city on the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway in Pattan constituency of Baramulla district is a picturesque area having a cluster of villages and apple orchards and serene atmosphere, cogent enough to draw one to poetry praising nature for its creativity and piety. However, unfortunately the fairy tale feeling vanishes off as soon as one enters a house or interacts with any local of that area. The region has known nothing but killings and mayhem. There will hardly be a family which must have not suffered any loss in the form of their dear ones or property during the ongoing struggle, for the last two decades. As such, on the account of the ongoing and lingering Kashmir conflict humanity has been dealt hard blows over here. One simply feels pathetic, miserable, gasped and suffocated when one enters one of the worst pain stricken and browbeaten area (Palhalan). Palhalan over past 25 years of the struggle against oppressed occupation has seen the worst tragedies and has been reduced to a concentration camp. With every family having lost a son, a father, a brother, a sister, a daughter, a mother and what not. Getting beaten up by the security agencies, being called for questioning, detaining without reason, and much more by the security agencies is the order of the day at Palhalan.
 

It is worth mentioning here that the recently martyred brave hero of Kashmir (Mufti Hilal) also hailed from the same area. As soon as one meets his family, one can’t do anything but burst into tears and cries, such is the saga of pain and agony and it is not the only family nor is the first one in the area, which has such deep gashes in the bosom.
 

Pertinently, J&K Police on its part had stated that Hilal Molvi (Mufti Hilal) of LeT was martyred in an encounter with the police in Narparistan (Fateh Kadal) area of old Srinagar city. But, as per the family members the veracity of the police version about the encounter is doubtful rather concocted and engineered. They also allege that it actually was the torture and brutality of the security agencies that forced Hilal into militancy.
 

Hilal’s father, Mr.Ali Mohammad Rather states in a painful note–“We doubt the veracity of encounter as a dozen bullets were pumped in his chest alone. During these months our house was continuously raided and we were mentally harassed .My world has finished due to Hilal’s martyrdom. Both me and his mother are in great distress.” Rather further states that the torture and suppression forced his son into militancy. “My son was a learned scholar and his only crime was that he dared to tell the truth in the mosques and aware people about the great teachings of Islam. He was a learned Mufti (Islamic Scholar) and had studied in Gujarat and Deoband in this regard. The oppressive system in our part of the world believes in silencing with the use of brute force those voices which propagate the real teachings of our great religion ‘Islam’ and similarly Hilal was also harassed by security agencies for propagating the truth,” states Ali Mohammad Rather.
 

On the other part his mother who always keeps shedding tears for his son is in a state of deep shock. “My son believed in telling truth and has been martyred for the same. His power of his knowledge irked the Indian oppressors and they brutally silenced his truthful voice,” states his mother.
 

According to his family, two Public Safety Acts were slapped on him resulting in him being in prison for more than 21 months. His brother and Uncle are also shattered and depressed to the core. They state that with Hilal’s martyrdom their world has been shattered. His father sums up the pain of Palhallan in these words- “Telling truth in Kashmir is a grave crime and we the people of Palhallan are annihilated and killed for telling and upholding the truth.”
 

Ground analysis suggests that suffocating scenario of Palhallan needs to be pondered upon in a thought provoking manner. (Kashmir Media Watch)

Kesar in Kashmir

Buy Saffron

Kashmir has worldwide reputation of producing finest Saffron (Kesar). We grow and will by post to Saffron  cashmiriana fom Kashmir Himalaya.
your doorstep 100 percent red-thread organic

This Saffron (Keser) is hand harvested from the fields of Saffron City, outside of  Pulwama, Kashmir Vale. Our mission is to make available to you the world’s finest Saffron. This Saffron is extremely difficult to available in INDIAN MARKET.

Kashmiri Saffron (Kesar) 10 grams  Rs. 3500/-

The JK Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Mob:09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.in