Centre should open all cases of rights abuse in JK: Mirwaiz

Srinagar: A day after five Army men were sentenced to life in 2010 Machil fake encounter case, Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday demanded the Centre to open all cases of human rights violations over the last more than two decades in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Government of India should open all cases of human rights violations... Over the last more
than two decades. All cases of enforced disappearances and all other fake encounter cases," Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz said in his Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid here.

He said the "Centre should also reopen the Pathribal fake encounter case in which Indian soldiers have been allowed to go free despite the
findings of the CBI."

Commenting over the statement of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had termed the verdict as a "watershed moment",
Mirwaiz said while the verdict is a positive step, it is premature to declare it a "watershed moment".

He alleged that the Machil fake encounter was deliberate attempt to derail diplomatic efforts towards resumption of Indo-Pakistan dialogue in 2010.

"Machil fake encounter was not just a brazen crime against humanity, it was a crime against peace ? a deliberate attempt to derail diplomatic efforts towards resumption of dialogue between
India and Pakistan in 2010," he said.

PTI