E-Paper
Geelani writes to UN to intervene in J&K
SRINAGAR: Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has sought the intervention of the United Nations and heads of several Western and Muslim countries in the wake
SRINAGAR: Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has sought the intervention of the United Nations and heads of several Western and Muslim countries in the wake of “a new wave of state terror unleashed by the Indian armed forces” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Geelani said he wrote the letter “on behalf of the oppressed and besieged people to draw the attention of the world community” as curfew continued in the region for the ninth day following the deaths of dozens of protesters in retaliatory firing by government forces.
Four youths from Bandipora were injured in firing by the Army on Sunday. Sources say the protesters were trying to storm an army camp.
Mobile networks, apart from BSNL, remained suspended even as cable network, gagged earlier on Saturday, was restored in the day. Kashmir also got no newspapers on the second consecutive day. Essential commodities were not available as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed.
Geelani alleged that “India continues to institutionally perpetrate violence in J&K, and has ensured so far that no armed forces personnel involved in heinous war crimes to be prosecuted by its own judicial mechanism”.
“...therefore we urge the international community to pave way for an international inquiry led by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),” the letter reads. “This inquiry is not unprecedented. Recently, the OHCHR instituted an inquiry into the crimes perpetrated by the Sri Lankan government.”
Meanwhile, in order to get a ground report of the situation, Congress has sent a two-member team to the Valley. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee held an urgent meeting here on Sunday in which AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, former Union Minister and senior Congress Leader Salman Khursheed and state Chief GA Mir were present.
