NHRC takes suo-motu cognizance of terrorist killings of Kashmiri Pandits Government of India and J&K Government asked to report

The National Human Rights Commission has today called upon the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and the Chief Secretary, Government of Jammu & Kashmir to furnish the Commission with factual reports regarding the killing of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.





The Commission has followed media reports on the outrageous terrorist’s attacks that occurred on 24 March 2003 in Nadimarg, claiming the lives of 24 Kashmiri Pandits including 11 women and 2 children, with deepest anguish and concern.





This incident, the Commission felt, was once again, an unspeakable act of violence that had taken innocent lives, and was testimony to the depravity of those who engaged in terrorist acts. The Commission unequivocally condemned such acts and their perpetrators, as they were deeply hostile to human rights – including the most fundamental of all human rights – the right to life itself. This attack was doubly reprehensible, as it had taken place at a time when fresh efforts were underway to bring peace and reconciliation to the state of Jammu & Kashmir, objectives to which the terrorists were fundamentally opposed.





Media reports have indicated that the victims were murdered despite the presence of a police picket in the vicinity of the seen of the attack. The Commission has thus asked the Government of India and the J&K Government that they should in their reports, also indicate, inter-alia, such measures as may have been taken, or are planned to be taken to enhance the security of the affected community and to ameliorate the suffering of the families of those who have been killed or traumatized. The reports has been called for within one week.





In addition, a petition dated 25 March 2003 has been received by the Commission in respect of this tragic incident from the Kashmiri Samiti. The State and the Central Government have also been forwarded a copy of that petition and have been asked to report to the Commission in this regard too.