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Kunan Posphora victims speak out: ‘Verghese report a lie’

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 6/25/2013 1:53:46 AM

SRINAGAR, June 24: The inhabitants of Kunan Poshpora have accused B G Verghese, senior journalist of ‘actively abetting the rape and torture of women in Kunan Poshpora’.
According to Ifrah Mushtaq, representative of the Support Group for Justice for Kunan Poshpora, the locals of Kunan Poshpora called Vergehese a liar. Verghese had headed the Press Council of India fact finding team report on Kunan Poshpora. “But, he never visited the villages of Kunan and Poshpora. He, through the report and subsequently, has sought to malign the men and women of Kunan Poshpora. He has called them shameless, as according to him the allegation was orchestrated on behalf of the militants,” said Ifrah.
She said on June22, 2013, for the first time, the villagers of Kunan Poshpora spoke to the civil society and media of Srinagar. “They spoke of rape, torture, suffering, pain and courage. More specifically, they spoke of the fight ahead. They vowed to continue the struggle for justice and never to forget persons responsible for the cover up of the Kunan Poshpora case.”
Besides, Ifrah, the support group comprises of three more girls--Samreena Mushtaq, Uzafa Basu and Uzma Qureshi. “The re-opening of the Kunan Poshpora case also implies that those involved in cover ups and in maligning the women of Kunan Poshpora had lied. Therefore, recognizing his criminal role in the Kunan Poshpora case, it was unanimously resolved that B.G. Verghese is to be socially and professionally boycotted,” said Khuram Parvez, coordinator Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies.
“The civil society vowed to not engage with him. Further, anyone who does engage with B G Verghese will in turn be boycotted. B G Verghese presently occupies positions of importance in the Center for Policy Research, Delhi and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Delhi. The Support Group for Justice for Kunan Poshpora along with other civil society stakeholders will communicate directly with these institutions and any other institution that may have ties with him, to immediately stop all engagement with him,” he added.
He urged the civil society groups, conscientious citizens in India and Jammu and Kashmir that until Verghese is prosecuted for his role in the Kunan Poshpora case, there must be an absolute boycott against him. “He must not be invited to speak at public functions, he must not be allowed to occupy any positions of responsibility, and he must constantly be reminded of his own criminality.”
According to Khurram, after the June 22 press conference, “the State has continued its intimidation. The Police (Tregham Police Station), Indian army (specifically 24 Rashtriya Rifles, based at Trehgam) and other agencies, have sought to intimidate the villagers of Kunan Poshpora. They have gone to the villages, demanded answers to questions about the case and sought to intimidate them through repeated phone calls. This will not be accepted. Legal action will be taken against anyone who seeks to intimidate and threaten the villagers of Kunan Poshpora. They would, first, be named in public, and then taken to court,” the support group said.