AJKPC mocks at SHRC for recommending compensation of Rs 10 lakh to stone-pelter

Where was SHRC when Panchayat members human rights violated by armed terrorists: Anil Sharma  

JAMMU, 12/July/2017: All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) on Wednesday mocked at the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) for its direction to J&K government to provide Rs 10 lakh compensation to Farooq Ahmad Dar, the leader of stone-pelters who was tied to the Bonnet of the vehicle by Army on April 9.

“It is quite disgusting that SHRC has passed such a direction to the state government which is not only illogical but also an insult to the security personnel fighting terrorists and violence in Kashmir Valley. Where was the SHRC when about dozen of Panchayat members were gunned down by armed terrorists for no fault of theirs,” Anil Sharma, president AJKPC said during a meeting of the Conference.

While questioning the rationale being adopted by SHRC to pass such a intriguing order to the state government, the AJKPC leader said, “We would like to SHRC whether the Panchayat members, who sacrificed their lives for strengthening the democracy at grassroots level, had any human rights. Where was the Commission when their human rights were violated by armed terrorists? Why the Commission has adopted different yardsticks for different set of people”.

Referring to a petition filed by a Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma with the National Human Rights Commission with regard to adequate security to elected Panchayat members in J&K about five years back, the AJKPC leader also questioned the silence of the state government and the SHRC for taking no cognizance of it, leaving the Sarpanches and Panches to die in the hands of terrorists, particularly in Kashmir.

“Why were the recommendations of the NHRC not binding on the successive state governments? Why it remained a mute spectator to the killings of our Panchayat members? The successive state governments and the SHRC remained a mute spectator to it,” he asked.   

Sharma strongly opposed to the SHRC recommendation that Rs 10 lakh should be given to stone-pelter Farooq Dar, saying it would lower the morale of security personnel fighting with armed terrorists and violent protests in Kashmir Valley.

He also welcomed the statement of Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu wherein he had flatly rejected the SHRC’s directive to the state government to provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to a stone-pelter.

He also appreciated the role of Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, S P Vaid and the SOG wing of J&K Police Wing for their commendable job in controlling the situation in Kashmir.