Protest Against Ramban (J&K) Killing at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi, 21 July, 2013

Protest Against Ramban (J&K) Killing at Jantar Mantar

On the appeal of Save Sharmila Campaign and Mission Bhartiyam, a protest was organised against the Ramban Massacre by BSF that claimed 6 lives and injured 44 others.

Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign is a nation-wide campaign in support of Irom Sharmila and for the repeal of the draconian law of AFSPA. For two years, it has been working to spread awareness, mobilise support and generate political pressure to repeal the law. It is an umbrella of many civil society organisations. The protest was joined and supported by many progressive groups namely AISA, Campus Front of India, Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association, NCHRO, PUCL, J&K RTI and PUDR among several others.

The BSF had opened fired on a mob that was protesting against the alleged manhandling by BSF personnel of a local imam, followed by the reported desecration of the Holy Quran the previous night. The following morning, a group of protestors had reached a BSF post in Gool in Ramban district and they were responded with a massacre.

The organisers believe that this shameful and unacceptable incident called Ramban massacre is, however, not a sudden reaction to the protest.

"The Ramban incident is a prima facie case of coercive method adopted by the security personals. It highlights the highhanded attitude of the security forces that they have acquired over a period time due to their absolute powers and the impunity granted to them", said Ravi Nitesh, founder of Mission Bhartiyam.

"This protest is about this unacceptable massacre, it is to show our solidarity with the victims and demand justice but it has been organised to attack the root. We know that this incident is not the first incident in Kashmir. These inhuman incidents are quite frequent in Kashmir and in states of North East because draconian laws like AFSPA breed them. We are here today to appeal for humanity, to demand the repeal of AFSPA.” remarked Devika Mittal, core member of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign.

The organizers believe that real justice for the victims of the massacre will be to attack the “root” cause i.e. militarization and draconian laws like AFSPA that has led to fake encounters, rape and killings of civilians.

"It is unfortunate that these incidents are happening in the World's largest "democracy". It is unfortunate that these killings are justified in the name of upholding the 'integrity' of the nation. We feel that development, basic civil rights, basic amenities and justice should be used to uphold the 'integrity' not torture.” said V Arun Kumar of AISA.

"There is a long list of incidents where security personals of almost all wings have violated the human rights in J&K. There have been fake encounters, torture, rapes etc. in the state but nothing has been done to prosecute the culprits till now. So there is every reason to believe that like other similar incidents before, there will be no action taken by the government against security personals in Ramban massacre too. In such situation the only option left for the democratic forces to raise voice against such injustices", said Mohammad Tanveer of Campus Front of India.

Asad Ashraf from Jamia Solidarity Students told that “unless and until there is demilitarization, the situation will not improve in J&K. We must know that dissatisfaction is a primary reason for increase in insurgent activities so it’s high time that we think about “their” welfare, not “ours”.

Kaashif who was here from Chhatra Vimarsh magazine, remarked that “How do we take pride in being the world’s largest “democracy” when democracy is not extended to all states within our own country.”

Manjit from PUDR remarked, “It is tragic that Kashmiris are looked upon as “anti-national”, as “anti-Indian”. It is true that there are anti-state slogans in Kashmir but this is because the only symbol of India i.e. the army has created hell in their land”.

The protest was supported by renowned Activists like Gautam Navlakha, Prashant Bhushan, Manisha Sethi and many others. Though they could not be present. they had The protest was joined in by many people from Kashmir and even from states of North-East.

Dr, Muzaffar Bhat of J&K chapter of RTI remarked, "This incident happened in Jammu which is seen to be more "peaceful". So there cannot be any justification. It shows that the entire Kashmir is under attack. "

The organisations demands the repeal of AFSPA, it demands the de-militarisation of all civilian areas in the AFSPA-imposed states, to investigate all crimes committed under it, to prosecute the guilty persons, compensate the victims and just initiatives to improve the situation in J&K and in the states of North-East. They will be submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister, to the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Defence.

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New Delhi, Jantar Mantar 21 July 2013

MEMORANDUM
TO:
Manmohan Singh Ji, THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
A. K. Antony, Defense Minister of India
Sushil Kumar Shinde Ji, Home Minister of India

FROM:

Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign , Mission Bhartiyam, All India Students Association (AISA), Campus Front of India, Jamia Students Solidarity (JSS), Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association (JTSA), People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and Others

SUBJECT: JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF RAMBAN MASSACRE; REPEAL AFSPA

Another shameful memory has been added to the history of Kashmir. On the night of 17th July, BSF personals had mishandled a local imam and desecrated the Holy Quran in a village in Ramban district. The following morning, a group of protestors had reached a BSF post but they were responded with an indiscriminate killing. The act of BSF was so careless and rude that as per 20th July 2013 Indian Express Front Page news, Superintendent of Police himself told that BSF fired suddenly and even he could have saved himself anyhow.

The incident known as the Ramban massacre is shameful and unacceptable. This shameful incident is also not a sudden reaction to the protest. There is every reason to believe that the security personals had sufficient capability to face the protestors but they decided to open fire on them as if they were mentally-prepared to take such action.

The Ramban incident is a prima facie case of coercive method adopted by the security personals. This highlights the highhanded attitude of the security forces that they have acquired over a period time due to their absolute powers and the impunity granted to them. Not just this shameful incident, Kashmir and North-east is full of such shameful incidents by security personals of almost all wings, be it the army, CRPF, BSF etc. have violated the human rights in J&K. There have been fake encounters, open fire, killings, tortures and rapes. They will not stop because draconian laws like AFSPA breed them. They will not stop until there is demilitarisation of civilian forces.

We also believe that torturing people and subjecting them to everyday violence is not the way to uphold the 'integrity of the nation'. The killing of innocent people cannot be justified. We therefore demand:

*A speedy inquiry, within a given time frame
*Prosecute the guilty
*REPEAL AFSPA and other similar draconian laws
*Remove all the military forces from civilian areas of Kashmir


Submitted by:
Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, Mission Bhartiyam, Campus Front of India, All India Students Association, Jamia Students Solidarity, Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association, People’s Union for Democratic Rights & Others