Asiya, Neelofar Remembered
Shopian: Majlis-e-Mashawart Shopian organized a seminar against the denial of justice to the family of Aasiya and Neelofar, who were allegedly raped and murdered 4 years ago.
The seminar organized at Eidgah Shopian was attended by people from different walks of life including Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Aasiya Andrabi, noted Journalists Ved Bhasin, Zaheer-u-Din, Civil Society members Shakil Qalandar, Prof. Hameeda Nayeem, Parveena Ahangar, Abdul Samad Inqalabi, Abdul Majeed Zargar, Khuram Parvez, Parvez Imroz, Dr Altaf Hussain and senior Hurriyat leader Javid Ahmed Mir.
Speaking on the occasion, Aasiya Andrabi said the CBI report about the Shopian incident was formulated by New Delhi with the tacit support of the state government well in advance. In presence of 10 lakh troops we are not safe even in our homes, not to speak of orchards, Asiya said adding that India is subduing Kashmiri people by different means and this country will never accomplish its mission.
In a scathing attack on New Delhi, Ved Bhasin said that he was never in favour of CBI probe in this double rape and murder case because CBI has lost its credibility. India which claims to be the biggest democracy is actually hollow inside and it has given unbridled powers to security forces in Kashmir, he said.
Hameeda Nayeem blamed National Conference for bringing miseries to the people. They (NC) threw Kashmir in Indias lap for petty interests and the people of Kashmir are suffering because of their wrong policies, she said.
Shakil Qalandar said that the people of Shopian did not fight for justice for the family of the rape and murder victims but for the protection of the honor and dignity of all the Kashmiri women.
‘Perfect Crime’
Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society headed by Parvaiz Imroz said, the Indian State has over the last 23 years sought to perfect the act of committing the perfect crime. Following the commission of the crime, and while ensuring the impunity of the perpetrators, care is taken to also defame the victims/families. Further, as always, enquiry commissions, and faulty investigations are initiated and allowed to function, only to ultimately disprove the claim of the victims and their families. On the intervening night of 29/30 May 2013, Aasiya Jan and Neelofar Jan were raped and murdered. To date, no action has been taken against the perpetrators of the crime. Justice Muzaffar Jan [Retd.] in his July 2009 report, based on scientific and testimonial evidence, confirms rape and murder. The report and the evidence points strongly towards the involvement of the armed forces in the crime more particularly, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force [CRPF]. Despite the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir being approached through public interest litigation [PIL], no action has been taken by the State. Along the way, the families of the victims, and the victims themselves, have been subjected to a motivated and intense slander campaign. The Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI] has, predictably, shielded the guilty, hidden the truth and charge sheeted persons for fabrication of evidence. Arguments raised in Justice Jans findings remain still unanswered and unless the evidence produced in Justice Jans report are taken on board justice remains evasive. Said the society in a statement to KNS.
It added. The Indian State in its response to the double rape and murder in Shopian did not focus on the identification and prosecution of perpetrators or in addressing structural realities of militarization that foster and perpetuate injustices. The State has instead focused on collaborators and manufacturing scapegoats to subdue public outcry. Control rather than Justice is, as always, the strategy. The strategy of control has been persistent, and continues to date. The Indian State sought to control the situation in 1991 when the Kunan Poshpora mass rape case happened [and the control continued in this case till recently in the High Court]. Sexualized violence has always been an instrument of the State against the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In numerous cases, due to various factors [including social factors], sexualized violence by the State forces has not even been reported.
In the double rape and murder case of Shopian, it is first and foremost the struggle and resistance of the people of Shopian that has ensured that at least the Indian State stands firmly indicted and comprehensively dishonored. Their struggle and resistance is saluted, supported and must continue.
