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Families of victims of 2010 uprising hold protest against attack on yatris

MAJID NABI. Dated: 7/16/2017 9:08:22 AM

SRINAGAR, July 15: The families of 2010 uprising victims today staged joint protest here to condemn the attack on Amarnath Pilgrims in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district that left seven yatris dead and several others injured earlier this week.
Carrying banners and placards reading “prosecute and punish perpetrators of all killings and we condemn Amarnath yatra killing”, the families of 2010 uprising victims this afternoon gathered at Press Enclave here and staged a joint protest against alleged human rights violations.
The families including that of teenage Wamiq Farooq of Rainawari, Tufail Matto of Saidakadal and Zahid Farooq Sheikh of Brein Nishat besides denouncing attack on yatris accused the government of hoodwinking people vis-à-vis probes ordered by it into rights violations by Indian armed forces in Kashmir.
The protesters alleged that the government has never been serious to deliver justice to the victims of 2010 uprising during which hundred odd people including men women and children lost their lives.
Pertinent to mention here that Wamiq Farooq a class 7th student, was hit by a police teargas shell on his head in Rajouri Kadal on January 10, 2010 while Zahid Farooq went out with his friends to play cricket on February 5, 2010 when a BSF contingent allegedly opened fire on them killing Zahid on the spot.
Tufail Matoo, a teenager, was returning home from tuitions when a teargas shell fired by the police near Gani Memorial Stadium, Rajouri Kadal in the old city allegedly hit him resulting in his on spot death.
“We the parents of 2010 victims condemn in strong words the killing of innocent yatris; we believe that murder of an innocent human being is murder of entire humanity. Having lost our loved ones, we deeply understand the pain and agony of the victim families; and thus stand in solidarity with them,” said Mohammad Ashraf Matoo father of slain teenager Tufail Matoo.
Mattoo alleged that more than 120 civilians were killed by security forces but none of the guilty personals have been prosecuted in seven years.
He said that the victim families have been pursuing the cases of their loved ones in courts since 2010 but justice seems to be a farfetched dream for them given state governments ‘shoddy’ approach in dealing with the cases related to rights violations.
“Recently BSF court acquitted commandant R.K Birdi and Constable Lakhvinder Singh of all charges, the findings of Koul Commission into 2010 killings are yet to made public, so it is clear that all the enquiries, investigations and prosecutions ordered since 1989 lacks credibility,” said Matto.
Farooq Ahmad Wani father of Wamiq Farooq claimed that the police personal involved in the killing of his son despite being arrested are yet to be prosecuted.