Srinagar
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) said that the annual report by the UN about children and armed conflict where in the UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the continued use by the Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir of torture and pellet guns against children as well as their illegal detentions, and called on New Delhi to “immediately end” such practices again ,highlights the atrocities committed against children as a consequence of the lingering Kashmir conflict.
APHC said the report verified killing of 8 and maiming of 15 children between the ages of 1 and 17, during joint operations of the Indian forces.
“Most of the casualties that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir were mainly caused by torture in detention, shootings, including from pellet guns.”
The report particularly cites 68 instances where children between the ages of 9 and 17 have been detained by Indian security services in Jammu and Kashmir on national security-related charges. “
The Secretary General said that he remains concerned by child casualties in Jammu and Kashmir and call upon the Government to take preventive measures to protect children, including by ending the use of pellets against children.
APHC also reiterated its appeal to immediately release on humanitarian grounds all Kashmiri prisoners put in various jails , including Hurriyat leaders , activists youth and children in view of the rapid spread of Covid 19 pandemic even in jails as media reports of some leaders and activists complaining of fever and other symptom related to the pandemic are causing great concern among people.—PR
