Mirwaiz submits memorandum to Annan on Handwara killings

Srinagar, Feb 23 (UNI) Moderate Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today submitted a memorandum to the United Nations, urging it to intervene and impress upon the Indian government to put an end to the alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Mirwaiz's Secretary, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, handed over the memorandum, addressed to UN secretary General Kofi Annan, to officials of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) at Sonawar near here.

The memorandum alleged that a ''reign of terror'' has been unleashed by the Indian Army and para-military forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

''The Hurriyat Conference is of the view that unless draconian laws which give authority to Indian forces to catch and kill people without any reason are withdrawn and demilitarisation of the entire state takes place, killing of innocent civilians will continue and peace in the region will remain a distant dream,'' the Mirwaiz said.

''The Army has brutally killed four youth, who were playing cricket in a ground, at Chak Dodipora in Handwara yesterday. It is not for the first time that Indian forces have killed innocent civilians. These forces have been given full authority by the government to act with impunity, unleashing a reign of terror and oppression on the innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir,'' the memorandum said.

The unfortunate story is that on the same day in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad addressed the people and assured them that human rights violations will not take place in future, it added.

''It is our humble appeal to kindly take up this matter with the Indian government and urge it to stop human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir,'' the Mirwaiz said in the memorandum.

UNI AG VD RAI2101