Monday, June 1, 2009

The fallacy and comedy of useless government probes against atrocities of armed forces

Govt. yet to implement enquiry report recommendations of Wular Tragedy even after one year that indicted Indian Navy of the murder of 22 Kashmiri children
Courtesy: Daily Rising Kashmir dated May 31st, 2009 by Shahjahan Afzal
Kupwara, May 30: Speaking on the third death anniversary of Wular tragedy in which 22 persons including 20 school children drowned when Indian Navy had taken them on a boat ride, parents and students and various organisations Saturday asked the government to implement the Naqashbandi inquiry report. Students in hundreds and teachers of the area held a condolence meet at Handwara in north Kashmir district of Kupwara. Chairman ‘Wular Tragedy Martyrs Committee’ Ghulam Mohiuddin Zargar, spearheading the campaign for justice told Rising Kashmir that three years have passed but government is yet to implement the recommendations of inquiry report, “Despite the tall assurances from the then government and the then Navy Chief, Admiral Arun Prakash that the guilty will be treated as per the law nothing has come out.” Zargar further said: “Indian Navy played big joke with the souls of the deceased by constructing Children Hospital amid media hype at Handwara in their memory. The hospital is without staff and the machinery installed is getting rusted with each passing day.”All the 22 deceased belonged to ‘Burning Candle Public School’ Handwara. On the occasion the parents, teachers and the colleagues of the deceased children together held a condolence meet at Sunrise Public School, where they mourned the death of dear ones. The participants while paying rich tributes to the deceased souls demanded implementation of the inquiry report. Bilal Akbar of Khaipora, while addressing the audience said, “Kashmiri are suppressed people. Our voices are muzzled.” Rafia of ‘Kehkashan’ School criticised the attitude of some people and accused that they are of dual character. “On one hand we support Azaadi yet we also support Indian polity by voting which we must not,” said Rafia. She accused the parents of the deceased souls of selling out their blood. Another student Nadia of 10th class said: “I still vividly remember my friends who lost their life in the tragedy. Their sweet memories neither let me sleep nor let me eat at most of the times.” Trying to console the bereaved parents Nadia said, “Don’t worry they are not dead they are alive.”NGO, Global Peace Foundation, Chairperson Abdur Rashid also paid rich tributes to the children who lost their lives in the tragedy.On 30 May 2006, 20 children were drowned in a boat capsize in Wular Lake. The incident evoked massive anger and condemnation against the Indian Navy for negligence from most sections of the State, forcing the government to launch an inquiry into the incident.The then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on 06 September formed an inquiry committee to look into the incident. The team of inquiry was headed by Syed Tariq Naqashbandi, the then district and sessions judge Srinagar. In his 156 page inquiry report found 4 persons of Indian Navy including Lt K S Nehra, Krishan Khalvi Ballot No, NEI (SD)129116Y designated as Boat Operator, Bali Ram Ballot No, 15769722/W, Gansham Ballot No, 15762395-N were held responsible. The inquiry also held principal of the school Muhammad Rafiq Khan responsible for the drowning of the students.

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