SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday asked the state government to find ways of paying compensation to the victims of the 1991 mass rape case at Kupwara’s Kunan Poshpora village within three weeks. A status report about the recurrent delays in investigations has also been sought within the same period.
The support group for Kunan Poshpora victims has described the judgment as an “important moment” in the struggle for justice.
In a petition filed before the High Court by the survivors of the Kunan Poshpora mass rape and torture case of 23/24 February 1991, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today, in a strongly worded order, recognized the States constitutional and statutory responsibility for the crimes committed in Kunan Poshpora.
The petition sought court-monitored investigations by a SIT, and that the SHRC recommendations on compensation be processed by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Following the 18 June 2013 order by Judicial Magistrate, Kupwara for further investigations, the police have sought four extensions and have carried out virtually no investigations.
The High Court observed that the SHRC recommendations were supported by evidence and ordered the Government to explore the possibilities of payment of compensation within three weeks. Further, taking notice of the repeated extensions sought and submissions that no effective investigations have taken place, a status report was sought on the investigations carried out thus far within three weeks.
The High Court order is an important judicial determination that the SHRC recommendations on the rapes are fully supported by evidence on record. Further, compensation is beyond mere relief to the survivors. Compensation paid by the Government is an acceptance that the crimes actually took place and should be followed by prosecutions of the accused army personnel and all those responsible for the cover ups over 23 years.
“After 23 years, and countless judicial and extra-judicial attempts to cover up the Kunan Poshpora case, todays High Court order is an important moment in the process of remembering, resisting, and ensuring that the crimes and the lies of the State are contested,” the support group said in response to the court judgment.
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