Baig will head cabinet sub-committee on Human Rights in J

Srinagar, July 8 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig will head the three-member cabinet sub- commitee for monitoring implementation of the recommendations of State Human Rights Commission (SHR).

An official spokesman said that Ministers of transport and Power will be other members of the committee.

He said the committee will review the implementation of special scheme formulated during the year 2005 for rehabilitation of former militants.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on July 8 announced the formation of a Cabinet Sub-Committee to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).

Mr Azad said the government has received several complaints about the human rights violations by the security forces, the police and the Army.

He said ''we want the security forces, the police and the Army to respect the human rights of the people. We have directed and categorically told them that no innocent civilian should be killed or harassed while effectively carrying out anti-militancy operations in the state. However, at the same time, we want an end to militancy.'' The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a partner in the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir has welcomed the setting up of the cabinet sub-committee to monitor the Human Rights violations and creating eight new districts in the state.

The PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, hailing the setting up of a Cabinet Sub-Committee for monitoring implementation of the recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission, said it was a welcome step to curb the menace of human rights violations.

She said it would keep a check on the activities of the erring individuals among the security forces and the State police whose actions bring a bad name to the whole force and offer an opportunity to the vested interests to exploit the situation.

The chairman of the State Human Rights commission welcomed the setting up of a committee.

This, he said, will help restore the confidence of the people in the governments resolve to check the human rights violations.

UNI BAS AT PC1710