CoRCOM shares solidarity with people of Kashmir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 25 2017: Strongly condemning the excesses of the security personnel against the civilians of WESEA region and Kashmir, CoRCOM today said that it is irrefutable that the military of India have been using brute force against the civilians to keep thepeople subjugated.

In a statement issued to the press today, the outfit alleged that India has been adopting a double standard in alleging that security forces of neighbouring countries have been violating international law as per the Geneva Convention, but at the same time India has not hesitated in using civilians as human shields in Kashmir and WESEA.

Citing examples, CoRCOM recalled how a Major of the security force tied a Kashmiri civilian, Farooq Ahmed Dar, in front of an Army vehicle and used him as a human shield against the stones and bricks used by the Kashmiri people against the security forces.

Instead of penalising the Major for the inhuman act, the COAS, Bipin Rawat showered praises on the Major and went about looking for ways to award him, alleged CoRCOM.

Likewise, civilians were used as human shields in the Loktak Operations as well as in the operations at Dingpi and Khengjoi areas, added the outfit.

With the people of Kashmir intensifying the struggle to free themselves from India, the security forces too also increased their atrocities and excesses against the civilians leading to the deaths of many, while many others have gone missing.

In 2016, the security personnel shot dead 90 civilians in Kashmir following the massive uprising against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 the same year, recalled the outfit.

Far from disheartening the people of Kashmir such mass killings has only led to more and more young people of the place joining the movement to free Kashmir, added the statement.

On April 9 this year the security personnel killed 8 people and maimed many others during the massive protest held against the by election at Srinagar, recalled the outfit and added that this is enough testimony of the excesses committed by the security personnel of India against the movement of the people to regain their rights.

So strong is the stand of the people against the continued occupation of Kashmir by India, that MP Sharad Yadav had agreed that the situation in Kashmir had spiralled out of control.

That the people's movement in Kashmir cannot be subjugated is testified by the fact that a good number of Kashmiri youngsters have deserted the State forces there to join hands with the 'freedom fighters', it added.

Accusing India of adopting a double standard, CoRCOM said that before the international fora, it talks about human rights but in Kashmir and WESEA, the security personnel are given a free hand to harass and torture the people.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act is in force in Kashmir and WESEA and this Act gives the military unbridled powers to do as they please, said the statement and added that the numerous cases of extra-Judicial killings in the two regions are enough testimonies.

CoRCOM said that it still stands by the Plebiscite call given by the UNSC to settle the Kashmir issue on April 21, 1948.It is against the excesses of the security forces of India that CoRCOM stands in solidarity with the people of Kashmir, said the statement and added that the strong stand taken by the people of Kashmir will give strength to the movement in WESEA too.

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