APDP demands reopening of Pathribal fake encounter case

Srinagar, February 16, 2014 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) staged a sit-in protest at Pratap Park in Srinagar against the closure of infamous Pathribal fake encounter case by the Indian Army, demanding reopening of the case.

The APDP leader, Parveena Ahangar, talking to mediamen on the occasion said that closure of Pathribal fake encounter case had again proved that the Army and other armed forces were protecting their personnel involved in heinous crimes. She said that the decision of the Army to close the case was murder of justice and the victims’ families were disappointed by the decision of the Army.

“Kashmiris are witnessing these decisions for the last 20 years. Despite the Army and other agencies involved in extra-judicial killings, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, molestation, humiliations and other heinous violations, not a single perpetrator has been punished so far,” she deplored.

The APDP leader said that Pathribal fake encounter case was very high profile case as the fake encounter reached to all internal forums and everyone was expecting that the involved troops would be punished, but the decision had shocked and surprised everyone.

She said that every time a fake encounter was reported in the occupied territory, mass graves were unearthed or a woman raped, it opened up old wounds of the Kashmiris. Not a single trooper has so far been convicted for these crimes which reflects that the tall claims of justice and reparation made by New Delhi and its collaborators are nothing but tactics to hood-wink the international community and an attempt to cover-up India’s crime against humanity in Kashmir, she added.

It is worth mentioning here that on 25th March, 2000, the Indian army had killed five persons in Pathribal area of Islamabad district. The Army claimed that the killed were foreign militants involved in massacre of over 36 Sikh in Chittisinghpora area of the same district, a few days ago.

However, during the investigations it came to fore that the victims were innocent civilians murdered by the troops in cold-blood for their petty gains and promotions. Even Indian premier investigating agency, Central Bureau of Investigation had indicted five Army officers for killing the innocent civilians. However, on January 23, this year, the Army announced to close the case.

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