JKLF writes to Ban Ki-moon on human rights abuses in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 10 (UNI) The pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), led by Yasin Malik, today dashed a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, apprising him of the alleged ''deteriorating'' human rights situation in the strife-torn state and seeking his intervention in stopping such ''violations''.

In its letter to the UN chief on the International Human Rights Day today, the JKLF claimed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir experience on regular basis the ''phenomenon'' of custodial killings, enforced and involuntary disappearances, destruction of property, rape and molestation of women, crackdown and search operations besides arrests and torture.

''The perpetrators of this atrocity are the Indian forces acting on the directions of their government,'' the front alleged.

The JKLF said the atrocities in the Kashmir valley have increased rapidly despite ''fake slogans'' by the ruling party in the state.

''It is worth mentioning that those responsible for such killings and other atrocities are promoted instead of suspension.'' The front further wrote that India was trying to consolidate its political control over Jammu and Kashmir by using ''diabolical'' laws and ordinances such as the Disturbed Areas Act of 1999 and the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, giving license to the armed forces to ''kill, molest, rape, cordon off entire population and to conduct house-to-house searches''.

The Public Safety Act, a preventive detention law, was also in force in Jammu and Kashmir, the front said, adding these laws have been issued by the Jammu and Kashmir government to arbitrarily detain the political activists here.

''There are hundreds of people languishing in jails without any trial and several political activists have been arrested during this year on concocted cases under these laws,'' it alleged.

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