India is champion of Human Rights, violters will face action, J

Srinagar, Aug 2 (UNI) Declaring Mahatma Gandhi as the torch bearer of the non-violence, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that India has always remained as the champion of Human Rights.

Declaring that India does not require any lesson on the HR subject, Mr Azad said that lowest ever custodial killings have been registered in the state during the last year.

Ample steps have been taken and categorical directions given to the law enforcing agencies and security forces to maintain highest degree of restrain while dealing with civilian, he said and added that field commanders have been directed to take every care that there is no damage caused to the life or property while dealing with militancy.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, Mr Azad said both centre as well as state government have time and again made it clear that there will be zero tolerance so far as custodial or innocent killings are concerned.

This is the reason that the graph of human rights violations by the security agencies has gradually declined during the last many years and reached to lowest in 2006 when only one disappearance and two cases of custodian killings has been reported.

He said whenever any case of Human Rights violation has been proved against any security personal, befitting punishment under law has been awarded to the defaulters and whenever any complaint received has been given due weightage and cognizance.

The Chief Minister said that is not the fact that government has not taken any action on the recommendation of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in fact hundreds of recommendations made by the commission have been implemented saying that out of 440 cases 383 pertaining to the ex-gratia and employment have been taken care of.

He said for the speedy implementation of the recommendation of SHRC, government constituted a Cabinet-Sub Committee to monitor the recommendations and settle the cases at the highest level.

He said the committee soon after its constitution had a meeting where various aspects to this nature were discussed.

He said Financial Commissioner Home and Director General Police have been directed to review the cases at district level and settle these in a speedy manner.

Citing the example of Confidence Building Measures including opening up of Srinagar-Muzaffarbad road, Poonch-Rawlazkote road, holding of Round Table Conference and dialogue process, Chief Minister said that every step required for peace has been initiated.

He said five working groups have already been constituted and the meeting of the one has already been taken place, the other meeting is within a couple of days and the third after 15th August.

He said these measures to restore confidence, create atmosphere of peace and development and address problems of all sections of the society and areas of the state, are on.

UNI BAS MSJ KP1809