End custodial violence in Jammu & Kashmir

-- By Balraj Puri, Convenor J&K PUCL

The J&K PUCL appreciates the Chief Minister’s directive to the combined Unified Commend to avoid custodial violence and to conduct interrogation of arrested persons by the security forces in association with the local police. The PUCL urges the Chief Minister to extend to the State the practice prescribed by the NHRC to all the States to report to it within 24 hours every case of custodial death. We further urge the Chief Minister to see that custodial deaths became a thing of the past.

The PUCL believes that public opinion has to be built against killings of innocent civilians either by the security forces or by the militants. Further, the PUCL regrets lack of vocal protest over the killing of the nephew of the CPM leader Mohd. Yusuf Tarigami and his workers during the same period when custodial killings were reported in Shopian. Killing of unarmed persons or their relatives for their political beliefs were worst forms of Human Rights violations.