Metro
UK asked to probe Indian officials over Kashmir ‘war crimes’
A London-based legislation agency has filed an software with British police searching for the arrest of India’s military chief and a senior Indian authorities official over their alleged roles in struggle crimes in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Legislation agency Stoke White mentioned it submitted in depth proof to the Metropolitan Police’s Battle Crimes Unit on Tuesday, documenting how Indian forces headed by Basic Manoj Mukund Naravane and House Affairs Minister Amit Shah had been answerable for the torture, kidnapping and killing of activists, journalists and civilians – notably Muslim – within the area.
“There’s robust cause to consider that Indian authorities are conducting struggle crimes and different violence towards civilians in Jammu and Kashmir,” the report states, referring to the territory within the Himalayan area.
Based mostly on greater than 2,000 testimonies taken between 2020 and 2021, the report additionally accused eight unnamed senior Indian army officers of direct involvement in struggle crimes and torture in Kashmir.
The legislation agency’s investigation prompt that the abuse has worsened through the coronavirus pandemic. It additionally included particulars concerning the arrest of Khurram Parvez, the area’s most distinguished rights activist, by India’s counterterrorism authorities final yr.
“This report is devoted to the households who’ve misplaced family members with out a hint, and who expertise every day threats when attempting to realize justice,” Khalil Dewan, creator of the report and head of the SWI unit, mentioned in an announcement.
“The time has now come for victims to hunt justice via different avenues, through a firmer software of worldwide legislation.”
The request to London police was made underneath the precept of “common jurisdiction”, which provides nations the authority to prosecute people accused of crimes towards humanity dedicated anyplace on this planet.
The worldwide legislation agency in London mentioned it believes its software is the primary time that authorized motion has been initiated overseas towards Indian authorities over alleged struggle crimes in Kashmir.
Hakan Camuz, director of worldwide legislation at Stoke White, mentioned he hoped the report would persuade British police to open an investigation and in the end arrest the officers once they set foot within the UK.
A few of the Indian officers have monetary property and different hyperlinks to Britain.
“We’re asking the UK authorities to do their obligation and examine and arrest them for what they did primarily based on the proof we provided to them. We would like them to be held accountable,” Camuz mentioned.
The police software was made on behalf of the household of Pakistani prisoner Zia Mustafa, who, Camuz mentioned, was the sufferer of extrajudicial killing by Indian authorities in 2021, and on behalf of human rights campaigner Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, who was allegedly tortured earlier than his arrest final week.
Tens of 1000’s of civilians, rebels and authorities forces have been killed prior to now 20 years in Kashmir, which is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by each in its entirety.
Muslim Kashmiris largely help rebels who need to unite the area, both underneath Pakistani rule or as an impartial nation.
Kashmiris and worldwide rights teams have lengthy accused Indian troops of finishing up systematic abuse and arrests of those that oppose rule from New Delhi.
Rights teams have additionally criticised the conduct of armed teams, accusing them of finishing up human rights violations towards civilians.
In 2018, the United Nations human rights chief referred to as for an impartial worldwide investigation into experiences of rights violations in Kashmir, alleging “continual impunity for violations dedicated by safety forces”.
India’s authorities has denied the alleged rights violations and maintains such claims are separatist propaganda meant to demonise Indian troops within the area.
