SHRC seeks details of houses destroyed during encounters

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 19

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has sought the details of houses destroyed during encounters between militants and security forces in Kashmir this year.

Issuing notices to the Home Secretary and DGP in a petition, the commission on Wednesday observed that despite sending summons and reminders, “no response” had come from the authorities concerned with regard to the destruction of civilian properties during anti-insurgency operations by the security forces.

In the petition filed by human rights activists M Ahsan Untoo, it was contended that in most of the encounters this year, the houses were destroyed or blown up after militants entered these during gunfights hence rendering the inmates homeless. He had further submitted that in most of the cases, the house owners were not at fault.

In its orders, the double bench of the SHRC, comprising Dilshad Shaheen and Abdul Hameed Mir, issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, asking him to file a detailed compliance report with regard to the total number of houses damaged during encounters between militants and government forces this year so far.

The commission also issued notice to the state Home Secretary, Kashmir Divisional Commissioner, and DGP, asking them to file a “detailed report” on the issue by March 6, 2019, the next date of hearing.

‘No response despite summons’

• In its orders, the double bench of the SHRC issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, asking him to file a detailed compliance report with regard to the total number of houses damaged during encounters between militants and government forces this year so far
• The commission on Wednesday observed that despite sending summons and reminders, "no response" had come from the authorities concerned