Days after three civilians in Poonch district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir were martyred by Indian troops in custody, the Indian National Commission for Minorities (NCM) took cognizance of the case and issued a notice to the administration of the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the NCM was acting on a complaint by Delhi-based human rights activist Saddam Mujeeb, who compiled information from news reports and alerted it about the incident, seeking action against the perpetrators, and justice for the families of the victims.
The three men, Mohammad Showkat, 22, Safeer Hussain, 45, and Shabbir Ahmad, 32, were among eight men picked up by the Indian Army and were martyred on December 22.
A 29-second video, which went viral on social media, showed “Army personnel stripping the three men and subjecting them to severe treatment, including the application of chili powder. The video depicts the victims lying lifeless with visible wounds on their backs,” the complainant said, referring to news reports.
The other five men are currently admitted to a hospital with severe injuries, and are receiving treatment.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the NCM has written to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, seeking a detailed report on the incident by January 15, 2024.
Mujeeb, who is associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), told The Hindu that he had also sent a complaint about the incident to the National Commission for Human Rights, which is yet to take cognisance of it.—KMS
