Int’l Day of Disappeared Persons: Families remember missing kin

SRINAGAR: On the eve of  the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances , Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) staged a peaceful sit-in at city’s Pratap Park on Saturday. 

Scores of family members of disappeared persons participated in the peaceful protest that was also attended by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik who expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.

On the occasion, the mothers demanded whereabouts of their disappeared sons from government and security agencies. “If they are alive, tell us where have they been kept and if they are dead, show us their graves. All we want is to know the truth,” they said.

Parveena Ahangar, whose son was subjected to enforced disappearance in the year 1990, reiterated that she would continue her struggle till ‘justice is not delivered’. “I won’t rest till they don’t tell us about our children,” she said.

“They aren’t oppressed, but are brave,” Malik said in his address while referring to the families of the disappeared persons. He hailed Parveena Ahangar and termed her ‘brave woman’. The JKLF chairman slammed world organizations and Indian civil society and accused them of turning blind eye to Kashmir.

As Parveena and few other elderly women narrated their ordeal, the scene turned emotional with mothers of disappeared youth burst into tears mumbling “Katiu Chukh- Walo Myane Potro”.

However, women were consoled by others present. “Have patience, we faced the situation till this moment and we will have to face the situation in future as well. Our struggle has not ended,” a man in his sixties told Bhakti, while wiping her tears.  Parveena herself was seen consoling other women.

Khwaja Aapa, whose son was also among the disappeared persons, fainted and fell unconscious. “She has low blood pressure,” a women, who was next to her, said. A group of people including scribes lifted her and kept her under the shade of a chinar tree. She regained consciousness after water was sprinkled on her face.

“If they will return me my son’s bones, I will accept that too because I need him,” Bakhti, whose son was allegedly picked and subjected to enforced disappearance by army’s 28 RR in 2001 at Rafiabad, said. “I fought my case in State Human Rights Commission but I achieved nothing. After five years, they expressed helplessness and offered me relief but I rejected that,” she said.

Bhakti said the future is dark. “I don’t know what would happen. There seems to be complete darkness,” she says.

A resident form North Kashmir’s Katianwali area of Baramulla district Bashir Ahmad Chichi said that his brother Altaf Ahmed was on his way home from his routine work from fields when he was taken away by some unidentified gunmen. He said, “Since November 16, 2002 his family has been roaming from pillar to post in search of Altaf but all in vain.

An elderly woman from Kawoosa village of Budgam said that her son Muhammad Ramzan Sheikh was a 25-year-old in 1992 when he was  taken away by govt forces. “He was engrossed in his work; we were busy in our paddy fields,” she said while wiping her tears.

“I will die in peace after having a glimpse of my beloved son,” she said.

Parveena Ahanger said the victims have left no stone unturned to know the whereabouts of disappeared but to no avail.

“Our search from pillar to post is turning futile.” Parveena said adding, “We don’t get any clue of our dear ones doesn’t mean we would give up. No way till our last breath.”

Parveena said the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), High & Supreme Courts and all other institutions of justice have failed us.

She said they are living with the hope to see their loved ones back one day. “Hope sustains life, we are hopeful that our disappeared kin will be with us someday,” she added. She further said, “We want government to come clear on the disappearance issue.” “Where are our loved ones? Are they alive or dead, we want to know,” Parveena demanded.

She said that several movements across the globe have been raising their voice for the victims of the enforced disappearances in the world. Like us many families have organized themselves in Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

“I would like to remind ourselves that the enforced disappearance in Kashmir cuts across regions and religions. Besides Kashmiri Muslims, the Sikh minority has not remained untouched from the state terror. In the year 1994 five foreign tourists who were picked up from the forests of Phalgham also became victims of enforced disappearances. Despite evidence State has failed to give any detail of their whereabouts to their families,” she said. 

A group of artists, who also attended the sit-in, painted various paintings reflecting the pain of kin of the disappeared. The presentation of the play ‘Be Chus Shahid’ or I am the witness was also shown on the occasion.

The human rights group and pro-freedom leaders claim that more than 8,000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearances by government forces. 

Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now

MONTHLY	Rs 100
YEARLY	Rs 1000
LIFETIME	Rs 10000

CLICK FOR DETAILS