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Over 100 Believed Missing In Banihal
By Syed Junaid Hashmi
24 March, 2007
Kashmir TimesJAMMU, Mar 21: More than 100 people have gone missing from various parts of Ramban and Banihal during the last 16 years of turmoil says a list compiled by veteran social activist from Banihal Abdul Gani Tantry. The indicted for disappearance of these 100 people are mostly "unidentified Gunmen" and army in a few cases.
"Unidentified Gunman" is a terminology which has different meanings for both the state government and the families of those missing. Officials of the state home department say that "Unidentified Gunman" are militants who in order to tarnish the image of security forces pickup people in a veiled manner while the families of the missing find it hard to squarely blame the security forces.
Whether they blame the security forces or militants, they believe forces they have a right to know who have picked them up. They further add that responsibility lies on the state government to find out the facts about their missing kith and Kins.
Families say that according to the Muslim custom, they deserve a decent burial incase, they have been killed or if they are alive, we have a right to know where they are. According to the report of the veteran social activist, names of seven of those who were allegedly picked up by Army are Master Abdul Hamid son of Ghulam Mohammed R/O Khadi, Aadpichla in Banihal.
A teacher by profession, he was allegedly picked up by army on January 6, 1999 and thereafter his family received no news about him. The second person is Mohammed Yousuf Kumar son of Abdul Razzaq Kumar, a resident of Pogal in Banihal who was allegedly picked up by army from his home. An Arabic scholar from Madina University, Yousuf has been missing since the year 2004.
The third person in the list is Dullah Gujjar son of Taja Gujjar resident of Nowgam in Banihal. He was a shepherd and picked up allegedly by army on August 21, 1999. Fourth case is that of Abdul Rashid Wani resident of Mahoo in Banihal. He was picked up by army on May 30, 2001 and continues to be in the list of missing persons compiled by Abdul Gani Tantry.
Fifth person is Abdul Aziz son of Mohammed Sultan, a resident of Mahoo in Banihal. Allegedly picked up by Army on the same day alongwith two others Abdul Rashid Sheikh (6th) son of Rehman Sheikh and Ali Mohammed Sheikh (7th) son of Mohammed Subhan Sheikh. On the same day, army allegedly picked up two more persons from the same village who continue to be missing since then. The names of other two persons are Kamaludin son of Abdul Razzaq and Mohammed Yousuf son of Mohammed Ramzan.
The list maintains that in these seven cases FIR's with respective police stations have been lodged and army units have been identified. The list further says that in all these cases, families have apprehensions that those picked up by army have either been killed in custody or in some fake encounter.
The list further shows that around 65 persons were picked up by "unidentified gunmen" and have since then gone missing. Families of these missing say that it is hard to say, who these are. They say that they come masked and one cannot judge who they are. Further, the list shows that around 16 people have gone missing with their families incapable to say anything about those behind their disappearance.
The families have stated that they left home and never returned. They add that it is impossible for them to suspect anybody because their children went missing under circumstances where for them accusing either the army of the militants or someone else is difficult. Hence they say that their children were picked up by "Unknown Agencies".
The list identifies twelve such families who allege that those missing from their families were picked up by their militants on the grounds that they were working with army and paramilitary forces. These families say that at least they have a right to see their children whom they bought up in their families and incase they are dead, they want to cremate then honorably.
When contacted, Abdul Gani Tantry said that the list is incomplete. "Hundreds more have gone missing during the last sixteen years, but who has the time to visit these unfortunate families who have lost their family members," added the social activist. He stressed that independent international human rights agencies should be allowed to investigate cases of custodial murders and disappearances.Regarding unidentified gunmen, Tantry said that during the last sixteen years, many questions have gone unanswered or nothing specific could be said about these questions. However, Secretary Home B.R.Kundal said that "unidentified gunman" is mostly militants. "State government is serious about addressing this issue of disappearances but only those which are genuine, as far as "Unidentified Gunmen" are concerned, they could be anyone even they may be militants, it is hard to say who they are," added Kundal. He stressed that state government would leave no stone unturned in giving justice to the people.
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