NHRC approached for security of J&K panchayat members

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Jammu: A social activist from here has filed a petition before National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking directions for the Jammu and Kashmir government for providing security to panchayat members (elected village heads) in wake of militants' threat to them.  

Raman Sharma, who is also a Right to Information (RTI) activist, said that he has approached the NHRC with a petition, "praying that after the open threat from Hizbul (Mujahideen) chief Syed Salahuddin, the panchayat members of the state along with their family members are under high pressure and worried about their life."

The petition addressed to the NHRC chairman is for seeking direction for the "state and the union government to ensure adequate security arrangements for the elected village representatives."

Expressing concern over the matter of threat given by Pakistan-based Salahudin who is also the chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC), Sharma in his petition has said: "If no prompt action is taken in this case, then these innocent panchayat members may succumb to the the diktat of the terror commander where he has asked them to either submit their resignation or face the consequences."

Sharma blamed both state and central government for being insincere towards this serious issue as they have not assured any sort of protection to any panchayat member.

The activist has urged the NHRC to issue necessary directions to both the government to take prompt action concerning the lives of more than 33,000 panchayat members and their family.

The Hizbul chief had in a recent interview to a media organization said: "Panches and sarpanches (heads and members of rural self-government institutions) are exploited by India to project Kashmir as pro-India, and as such, they will continue to be targeted...We call on them to resign from their posts and not allow themselves to be used to undermine the liberation movement in Kashmir."

Till now a total of 10 panchayat members have been killed by the militants in the state since polls that concluded June last year.

This and continuing threat of militants forced about 600 elected village panches and sarpanches to resign in the state till date in different phases.

IANS  

                                                                                         

COPY OF PETITION TO NHRC BY RAMAN SHARMA

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TETX MATTER OF PETITION TO NHRC

                      MOST URGENT

Honorable Chairperson,

National Human Rights Commission, NHRC                                   Dated: 07/Nov/2012   

(Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, PIN 110001)

                                   

Subject: Life threat to 33000 elected Panchayat Members in Jammu and Kashmir.

Honourable Sir,

Appellant is an ordinary citizen of India residing in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. I seek your permission to submit a very important issue concerning lives of more than 33000 human souls to your kind notice and necessary directions. The details are as follow:

You might be aware of the unfortunate fact that 3--4 days back, terror outfit Hizbul Mujahidin’s Chief Syed Salahudin who is operating from cross LoC has openly threatened the elected Panches and Sarpanches of Jammu and Kashmir State to resign from their posts or get ready to face  the dire consequences. The statement of the Hizbul Chief was also published in various national newspapers of the country.

 Sir, this open threat by the terror outfit’s commander has busted a sense of fear and panic amongst      

 the elected Panches, Sarpanches and their family members. Anyhow appreciably there are some brave Panchayat representatives who refused to obey the diktats of terror Organization and appealed other colleagues not to resign under any pressure.

But today the fact of the ground situation is that there is obviously a sense of fear-psychosis amongst these Panchayat representatives and they have termed this threat as “Death Warrant”. Their family members are also living under huge pressure and trauma.

Unfortunately, neither the State government of Jammu and Kashmir nor the Government of India have assured any sort of protection to any Panchayat member. Both governments have failed to en-trust these village representatives about their safety and security. And if no immediate action is taken, then these Panchayat members may succumb to the unholy diktats of the terrorists who want to weaken the institutions of democracy.

Under the constitution, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure protection to each member of the society, but without assigning any valid reason both the governments in this case have raised their hands and did nothing for the protection of Panchayat members who are strengthening the principle of democracy at grass root level.

Now, through this representation I request you to kindly issue necessary directions to both the governments to take prompt action in this serious matter relating to lives of more than 3300 panches, sarpanches and their family members.  It is also requested to seek detailed report from the state government of J & K about the action taken by it on the issue.

Once again an early action on this appeal is prayed and highly solicited.

                                      

                                                                                                                        Yours Faithfully,

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            RAMAN SHARMA,

Postal Address: __XXXXXXX__  Jammu-180001( J & K) Mobile. 9796811012, e.mail: aramansharma143@gmail.com.