the government of the indian state of jammu & kashmir needs to fracking rescind the order issued a week ago to authorize security forces to “shoot on sight” in response to communal clashes in the town of kishtwar, oda district...seriously...
kishtwar witnessed violent clashes between hindus and muslims on 12 august, where at least two people were killed as a result of alleged police firing...it is one of several towns in the state currently under curfew in the wake of protests that have left at least 28 people dead...
the government of jammu and kashmir reversed the proposed transfer of the disputed forest land on 1 july after ten days of protests in kashmir...the reversal prompted counter protests during which demonstrators in the jammu region obstructed traffic on the jammu-pathankot national highway, the main land route to the kashmir region...members of the hindu nationalist groups -- including the bharatiya janata party as well as the vishwa hindu parishad (world hindu council) – have been accused of having initiated an economic blockade by stopping traffic in both directions on the highway...the traffic stoppage reportedly led to shortages of essential food in the kashmir valley and damaged perishable goods shipped out of the valley...police opened fire on those attempting to block the highway on 6 august, leading to one death in kathua district...
shoot on sight orders are a clear violation of the right to life and of international standards of law enforcement...the volatility of the situation in jammu & kashmir requires more sensitivity from the authorities, not a shoot on sight order...
seriously...since the state government announced a proposal to transfer forest land from the state to the amarnath shrine board on 26 may, in order to accommodate the annual hindu pilgrimage at the shrine, there have been a series of protests and counter protests that have grown increasingly violent...
more public protests have been announced in the run up to indian independence day on 15 august by the all party hurriyat conference (aphc), one of the largest predominantly muslim political formations in jammu and kashmir...
indian authorities should conduct investigations and bring to justice police officers, as well as protesters, in a quick, transparent, and fair way in order to cool down sectarian tension...
seriously...
the government of india has a responsibility to ensure that it protects the right to life in accordance with its responsibilities under international law...this includes the international covenant on civil and political rights, to which it is a state party, and standards such as the u.n. basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials and the code of conduct for law enforcement officials, which state that firearms should be used only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life...
the region will soon take part in state as well as national elections...
peace out <3
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