WASHINGTON DC: The Kashmiri American Council has mourned the demise of H.N. Wanchoo a prominent human rights activist and has strongly condemned his murder. Wanchoo was killed in Indian occupied Kashmir on Dec.5
According to Agencies France Press (AFP) Wanchoo was known for his support of the Kashmir freedom movement. AFP said that Wanchoo was a “bitter critic of the Indian Government’s handling of the violent campaign and hit out at human rights abuses by (Indian) security forces who are frequently accused of persecuting civilians.”
A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) broadcast of Dec.5 said: Wanchoo was a prominent figure of India who continued to work for human rights. He had compiled a list of those separatists who according to him were killed by the security forces in their custody. It is due to his allegations that the international media started publishing reports about the human rights violations at the hands of the Indian security forces. These reports had caused considerable concern to the Indian government The Indian government had blamed Wanchoo that he was helping the separatists.”
Dr.Ghulam Nabi Fai Executive Director of the Kashmiri American Council (KAC) paying homage to the slain leader said that Wanchoo was a human rights activist par excellence. He said that Wanchoo had filed scores of suits in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to bring attention to human rights violations Dr. Fai said that Kashmir had lost a potential leader in Wanchoo a person who could have made a difference.
The Executive Director said that Wanchoos killing has made it clear that the Indian occupation forces want to eliminate all those who sympathize with the freedom struggle in occupied Kashmir He said how the Indians could succeed in this operation when every soul in Kashmir is for freedom.
Dr. Fai said that the time is past due for India to understand that it cannot retain 8 million people under force of the gun. He said India should fulfill its pledges that it has given not only to the people of Kashmir but also to the entire world community that there will be a plebiscite to allow the people of Kashmir to decide their own future.
The Executive Director said that the time has come when the governments of India and Pakistan should sit on the negating table with the legitimate representatives of the people of Kashmir for the final settlement of the disputed territory.
SRINAGAR(PTI): A leading human rights activist was among 30 people killed and 40 wounded in the trouble-hit Kashmir valley in northern Jammu and Kashmir state as all modes of communication here remained snapped for the third consecutive day till Dec.5. In the anti-militant drive launched by the army and paramilitary forces 44 subversives were arrested and another surrendered while nearly 5000 people were rendered homeless in a fire at Panzas village of Badgam district during the period.
In another incident H.N.Wanchoo freedom-fighter and a human rights activist was shot dead by “unidentified gunmen” near Karan Nagar Dec.5.
Wanchoo 65 was actively involved in organizing the scavengers of the Srinagar municipality and ran a private school for their children at Batmaloo.
One person was killed instantly and some others were injured in a powerful explosion in a Jammu-bound passenger bus near Naushehra Saturday morning an official spokesman told reporters here.
He said the bus carrying un-Specified passengers had left Jhanger in Rajouri district of Jammu region early Saturday 22 persons five of them securitymen were injured as militants hurled grenades and opened fire on the security pickets at Budshah Chowk Lal Chowk and Batmaloo area in the city. A security vehicle caught fire in the grenade attack the spokesman said. In an encounter between militants and security forces in village Panjas two security officials including a deputy commandant of the border security force and two militants were killed.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 18, 1992
