Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Former Union Minister has issued the following statement to the press, today.
SRINAGAR, DEC, 16: Inviting attention to the massacre that took place at Pulwama, the other day, I urged the Common-Wealth Human Rights (CHRI) Chief Sanjoy Hazarika to visit Kashmir and see for himself the blatant and extreme human rights violations through the black and draconian law – the AFSPA.
I also told him that what happened at Pulwama, was a massacre of unarmed civilians and his organization should demand an enquiry by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India.
I reminded him that he had himself described this Act as an ‘archaic’ and extremely violative of human rights and had urged Govt. of India to scrap it.
I also reminded him that he had himself admitted that it was impossible to reach the VICTIMS of this Black Law.
I conveyed to him that now was a situation that Army and the forces felt free to use this lethal weapon – the AFSPA, in routine and on daily basis.
I further conveyed to him that in view of the fact that National Human Rights Commission was a dysfunctional body; his (Sanjoy Hazarika’s) responsibility had increased.
I forwarded the copy of the letter to many Human Rights Activists in India and to many Generals including General D.S. Hooda”.