“Inquiries by the National Human Rights Commission receive a standard response that fatalities occurred when troops had to fire in self-defense”
SRINAGAR: The Indian government should appoint an independent commission to promptly and transparently investigate the killing of protesters by Border Security Force (BSF) troops in Jammu and Kashmir, Human Rights Watch said Saturday.
In a statement on its website, the HRW has also urged the government to end the BSF’s “longstanding impunity for large numbers of killings over many years.”
“The loss of life at the Ramban mosque needs a prompt investigation by an independent commission,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director.
“Any finding of illegal use of force by BSF troops should result in prosecutions. Too often the BSF’s version of events is simply accepted, allowing killing after killing for which no one is held to account.”
India’s home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has promised an investigation into the killings and assured that any excessive use of excessive force or irresponsible action would be strictly dealt with.
But the HRW statement said the (Indian) government has repeatedly failed to prosecute BSF personnel responsible for serious abuses.
“Inquiries by the National Human Rights Commission receive a standard response that fatalities occurred when troops had to fire in self-defense,” it said.
The statement also urged “organizers of protests” to take steps to deter supporters from engaging in violence, including attacks on law enforcement officers.
