New Delhi, Mar 25: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging repeated targeted killings of Hindu civilians and other vulnerable communities in Jammu and Kashmir, along with a lack of transparency in investigations and prosecutions.
A bench headed by NHRC Member Priyank Kanoongo issued a notice to the J&K Director General of Police (DGP), directing that the allegations be examined and an Action Taken Report (ATR) be submitted within two weeks.
The complaint was filed by advocate Vineet Jindal, President of the Anti Terrorism Global Front (ATGF), highlighting concerns over a recurring pattern of violence and inadequate transparency in handling such cases.
It referred to past incidents such as the Nadimarg massacre, where 24 Kashmiri Pandits were killed, the 1998 Wandhama massacre that claimed 23 lives, and attacks on Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in 2000 and 2017, which resulted in multiple casualties.
The complainant alleged that several cases remain unresolved due to lack of clarity on investigation status, arrests and prosecutions, thereby violating fundamental rights under the Constitution, including the Right to Life (Article 21), Equality (Article 14) and Freedom of Religion (Article 25).
Seeking intervention, the plea called for detailed investigation reports, case-wise status of FIRs, arrests and prosecutions, as well as preventive measures, protection for vulnerable communities and compensation and rehabilitation for victims’ families.
Acting on the complaint, the NHRC directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police to probe the allegations and submit a detailed report within the stipulated time.
The Commission also said that all related communications should be submitted through the HRCNet portal along with relevant records, including investigation details and supporting material. (Agencies)
