Srinagar, March 28 (KNO): European Parliamentarians have asked India to immediately stop using pellet guns in Kashmir and to repeal the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the valley. Almost 5o elected members of European Parliament have written a letter to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi expressing grave concern about the human rights violations in Kashmir.
"Immediately end use of Pellet-firing shotguns in Jammu and Kashmir and bring all relevant Indian laws into compliance with International human rights standards," the letter, a copy of which lies with KNO reads. They demanded establishment of independent and impartial investigation into all accidents where the use of pellet firing shotguns led to deaths or serious injuries.
The EU parliamentarians have also demanded that AFSPA and PSA should be immediately repealed and to provide full and effective reparation and rehabilitation to those who have been injured by pellet firing shotguns and to the families of those killed. "Establish independent and impartial investigation into all accidents where the use of pellet firing shotguns led to deaths or serious injuries," the letter reads.
The EU parliamentarians said that they are writing to PM Modi to 'express grave concern about the past and ongoing human rights violation against people in Kashmir as reported in a recent OHCHR report. "We are particularly concerned about the usage of pellet shotguns, responsible for blinding killing and traumatizing hundreds of people in Kashmir," they wrote.
The letter particularly cited the ‘tragic case of 19 month old child who was gravely injured by a pellet gun'. “The AFSPA, PSA give security forces virtually immunity against prosecution for any human rights violation,” they said.(KNO)