Thursday, April 24, 2014

Hawal Massacre: Time Bound Enquiry Ordered

Kashmir Life: Srinagar: Thursday, April 24, 2014.
Taking serious note of the Hawal Massacre that took place on May 21, 1990, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the time bound enquiry into the massacre and has sort report within a period of two months.
The petition in this regard was filed by chairman International Forum for Justice and Human Rights – JK (IFJHR-JK), Muhammad Ahsan Untoo on 26-03-2013 to seek investigation into the Hawal Massacre, compensation to the kins and the persons injured therein and also to build a memoriam in the name of martyred persons.
The case was listed before the acting chairperson of the SHRC on 28-02-2014 over which the commission came up with the decision to entrust enquiry to its investigative wing.
“Despite various communications addressed to DGP J&K, Div Commissioner Kashmir and also DO’s from Secretary of the Commission, authorities are unmoved to respond to any of the communication of the commission. In view of the insensitive approach adopted by the authorities, the commission has left with no option but to entrust the enquiry to investigative wing of this commission,” the SHRC order reads.
The order further says: “Accordingly, IGP SHRC is directed to get the matter investigated from SP SHRC who shall investigate the matter and furnish the report within two months. Registry is directed to provide all relevant papers to the investigating officer put up on 01-05-2014.”
The commission has fixed the next date for hearing on the same day as 01-05-2014.
It is worth to mention here that chairman IFJHR-JK, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo had also sought information regarding the killing of Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq and other persons (also known as Hawal Massacre) killed by security forces on May 21, 1990 through Right to Information Act (RTI) before the office of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir seeking “enquiry commission report” of the Hawal Massacre.
The reply to this RTI was provided to Untoo vide letter No. HQ/RTI/2013/S-32/563 dated 02-07-2013 submitted that a criminal case under FIR No. 35/1990 was registered in Police Station Nowhatta with regard to that incident. “However, there is no information with the department as to whether there was any enquiry either judicial or magisterial ordered by the government or not,” the reply read.
Pertinently, the Hawal Massacre was third of its kind in the year 1990 following the Gaw Kadal Massacre on January 21, 1990 and Handwara that took place on 25th of the same month.