Activists stage dharna against fake encounters in J

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) Activists of civil liberty and democratic rights organizations today staged a dharna near Parliament House against the fake encounters in Jammu and Kashmir.

The dharna organized by 'Jan Hastakshep', a group of intellectuals campaigning against fascist designs, urged the Centre to repeal Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces Special Powers Act (J&K AFSPA), which has been misused all along for supression of the people of the state.

The activists also demanded a swift and strict action against army and police personnel involved in killing of innocent Kashmiri citizens in ''fake encounters".

"Even though there is no formal declaration of emergency or war in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian State has been chosen for the misuse the words "disturbed area" and impose the draconian J&K AFPSPA, striking terror in the hearts of Kashmiris", said Dr N K Bhattacharya, convenor of Jan Hastakshep.

Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum to President A P J Kalam urging him to withdraw army from the state and for restoration of civil rights of the people of Kashmir.

Condemning the recently unearthed extra-judicial killings and cold-blooded murder of five kashmiris, the memorandum said that the security forces had been behaving like occupation forces leaving no scope for excercise of democratic rights by the people there.

It also requested the President that the government should find a permanent solution to the turmoil in J&K which, they said could only be found if the rights of self-determination of Kashmiris be respected by both the government of India and Pakistan.

UNI