Srinagar, Feb 28: The families of the victims of enforced disappearances Wednesday held a sit-in protest here urging the government to provide status report vis-à-vis the disappearances of 112 persons “at the hands of government forces” in Banihal area in of Ramban district.
The victim families under the banner of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) this afternoon assembled at Press Enclave here and staged a peaceful sit-in, seeking detailed status of 112 persons subjected to enforced disappearances in Banihal.
The protestors, carrying placards in their hands reading “Stop enforced disappearances” and “Do justice with victim families”, alleged that the government despite admitting the fact has not provided any information as to whether the victims are dead or alive.
Tahira Begum, who heads the faction of APDP which had organized the protest, said the government “despite admitting 112 enforced disappearances has so far not been able to provide their whereabouts to their families.”
She demanded that the government come up with a detailed status report about enforced disappearances in mountainous Banihal.
“What has happened to them is what we want the government to make clear. Are they dead or alive – at least the families should be given some information about their loved ones who were subjected to enforced disappearances,” she said.
She also alleged “eleven persons who had surrendered before the army and started working for them after their return from Pakistan-administered-Kashmir (PaK), are missing while as the army clearly denied to have any information about them.”
“We have proof that hundred and eleven youth, who surrendered before the army upon their return, and started working in the same army camp as laborers, also disappeared in thin air. Give us details and clear the air whether army has killed them or they were jailed,” she added.
She also urged the judiciary to decide on the cases related to enforced disappearances so that the victims’ families get justice.
