Srinagar, January 15: Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) led by Parveena Ahangar today released district wise yearly calendar to remember those subjected to “enforced disappearances” in Kashmir since 1989.
Seeking whereabouts of their missing family members, the victim families holding banners and placards which reads “where are our dear ones and stop enforced disappearances” amid intense cold assembled at Pratap Park here and held sit-in protest against the government for allegedly not being serious about the issue.
APDP members who have been protesting against the mysterious disappearance of their loved ones for the past thirty years alleged that government shy’s away to divulge details about the enforced disappearances to hide the gory crimes committed by its forces in Kashmir .
On the occasion the association which has been holding monthly sit-ins to seek whereabouts of the disappeared persons released district wise yearly calendar to highlight the agony of the mothers, widows and half-widows whose sons and spouses disappeared in thin air.
Talking to media, APDP Chairperson Parveena Ahangar while reiterating her stand on enforced disappearances said that she will tirelessly peruse the cause till the government comes up with facts regarding the disappearance cases.
She said a yearly calendar portraying victims of enforced disappearances was also released to highlight the grave issue.
“We released district wise calendars depicting pictures of the victims of enforced disappearances, these calendars would be distributed far and wide so that the world community takes note of the issue,” said Ahangar.
She alleged that every successive government other than hollow promises did nothing to mitigate the pain of a mother whose son was picked up by Special Operation Group (SOG), pro-government militia or any other agency operating in Kashmir,” she added.
Ahangar said scores of her APDP members died during these years without getting any clue whether their loved ones or dead or alive.
“I will keep on struggling till last breath of my life; I will not succumb nor let the government to take nap on the issue. I too have lost my son who was my world given the fact I can better realize what a mother feels when she lost her son or what a wife witness after losing her husband,” Parveena Ahangar said.
She demanded that the government should come up with the facts whether the people who were disappeared are still dead or alive.
“The silence government has adopted gives birth to apprehensions, we still are unsure whether are sons are alive or they have been killed, whether they in jails or buried. We will keep on protesting as long as we are alive as the protest is the only weapon we think to get justice,” added APDP Chairperson.
