The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) Thursday demanded that an independent commission be constituted to probe the disappearance cases in Indian Kashmir.
Hundreds of people have gone missing in the custody of different Indian security agencies in Kashmir after the eruption of militancy in 1989.
The family members of the missing persons under the banner of APDP staged a peaceful sit-in in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir on Thursday. Carrying placards and banners which read “Replace impunity with accountability” and “Stop enforced disappearances in Kashmir,” the family members of the missing persons were demanding whereabouts of their missing wards.
“The killing of three youth in a fake encounter by Indian army on April 30 has come as a rude shock to the families of the disappeared youth. We apprehend that many of our missing youth may have been killed in a similar manner by Army for earning medals and promotions,” APDP President Parveena Ahangar alleged.
She said that coercive measures adopted by the government will not break their resolve. “We’ll continue our fight, till the government comes up with the whereabouts of our dear ones,” she said.
Ahangar, whose son has also gone missing in custody of Indian security forces, demanded that government should set up an independent commission to probe the custodial disappearance cases. “The government doesn’t have the figure of missing persons. They issue statements about the disappeared persons according to their choice. An independent commission will help in knowing the exact number of disappeared persons, causes behind their missing and can also trace their whereabouts,” added APDP president.
