CCS smells rat, says villagers being threatened
SRINAGAR: A sudden explosion at Kunan Poshpora, the village where army is alleged to have raped several women in 1991, has kicked up a row between the army and the rights activists here.
The army on Monday claimed to have recovered arms and ammunition from an arms dump at Kunan Poshpora in Kupwara. An army statement claimed that following an explosion the army reached the spot and found some arms near the site of the explosion, which the army said was caused when a landmine went off.
However the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and the Support Group for Justice for Kunan Poshpora Survivors have said the explosion carried out at Kunan Poshpora and the threat of further searches is clearly an act of intimidation against the villagers of Kunan and Poshpora, and all those associated with the struggle against impunity of the Indian army.
According to a statement issued by JKCCS the two the Village Committee of Kunan Poshpora, that is fighting the mass rape and torture case of February 1991, has approached Trehgam Police Station for the filing of a FIR. At around 8:45 am this morning [7 April 2014], there was an explosion in Kunan village, Kupwara. The explosion was carried out by personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles and 160 Territorial Army, of the Hiri camp, who stated to the villagers that it was a very old mine that had to be exploded, the statement issued by JKCCS has said.
The statement reads that they declared that arms and ammunition were recovered from near the blast site. The recovery was done with no independent or local witnesses. Sarpanch of Kunan, Abdul Samad Dar, questioned the army personnel. He was told that the army had received information on arms and ammunition in the Kunan village, and that there would be searches conducted in the village in the coming days. The JKCCS has said that on 5 April, army personnel from Hiri camp were at the same location shooting a video, which appeared like a reconnaissance. For three days, prior to 5 April, there was unusual movement of the same army personnel at this location.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |