Himalayan Post

20/04/2025

HUMAN RIGHTS BODY SOUGHT JUDICIAL PROBE FROM NHRC INTO MYSTERIOUS DEATHS OF THREE TRIBAL MEN IN KULGAM, J&K

Human Rights Body move to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the alleged enforced disappearance and subsequent deaths of three tribal youths—Showkat Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad Bajad, and Mukhtar Ahmad—who went missing on 13 February 2025 while en route from Qazigund to Ashmuji in the Kulgam district of Jammu & Kashmir.
The incident has ignited public outrage and protests, particularly among the Gujjar and Bakerwal tribal communities in South Kashmir.
The complaint to the NHRC invokes Sections 13 and 14 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, alongside Rule 15 of the NHRC (Procedure) Amendment Regulations, 1997, urging the Commission to:
• Take urgent cognizance of the matter and initiate an independent inquiry;
• Recommend the appointment of a judicial authority (serving or retired judge not below the rank of Sessions Judge) to conduct a thorough and impartial probe;
• Call for immediate reports from the Jammu & Kashmir Government, Ministry of Home Affairs, and police departments;
• Deploy the NHRC’s Investigation Division to conduct an on-ground fact-finding mission;
• Recommend compensation and remedial measures in the interest of justice and accountability.
This action has been initiated by the Organization for Human Rights & Harmony (OHRH), an independent civil society group committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. The complaint was filed by Nikhil Padha, an advocate and human rights activist based in Jammu, who serves as the founder of OHRH, to ensure that the voices of marginalized communities in conflict zones are not lost in systemic apathy.

Nikhil Padha
(Founder, OHRH)

09/03/2025

NHRC direct for personal appearance of DC and SSP Poonch on non compliance of orders

The Commission had received a complaint regarding the death of threepersons, namely Safeer Hussain, Showkat Hussain, and Shabir Ahmed, in ananti-terrorist operation on 22.12.2023.
The Commission vide its proceedings dated 25.07.2024 considered the matterand observed as under:-
"The Commission vide proceeding dated 05.03.2024 directed the DC and SSP,Poonch submitted the requisite reports to the Commission within six weeks. The
DM, Poonch was also directed to submit the Magisterial Enquiry Report by aJudicial Magistrate (u/s 176(1-A) CrPC to the Commission within the stipulated
time"
"Despite directions of the Commission dated 05.03.2024 and subsequent
reminder dated 07.05.2024, the authorities had not submitted the requisiteReports

Detailed complaints were filed and argued by Advocate Nikhil Padha and Prashant Sharma before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on alleged deaths of Mohammad Showkat (26 years), Sareef Hussain (37 years), and Shabir Ahmed (32 years) and victims allegedly Tortured to Death namely Mohammad Ashraf (52 years), Fazal Hussain (50 years), Farooq Din Ahmed (45 years), Mohammad Betab (25 years), and Zulfkar (15 years)resident of T**a Pir village, Poonch District, Jammu & Kashmir. All belong to Gujjar Bakarwals community ( a Nomadic ethnic group of people belonging to the Schedule tribe community). Padha further argued
"that following the horrifying episode of custodial death and torture, the security personnel recorded a couple of videos which were published on social media. In those videos, the security personnel brutally assaulted the victims with iron rods and lathi and rubbed chilli powder on their wounds. The man seen in the video lying lifeless on the ground sustained severe injuries on his back. It was seen in the video clips that victims were lying lifelessly on the ground and praying for mercy in order to protect their lives. However, the perpetrator turned a blind eye to their request and showed no mercy to the victims and later the families of deceased victims were informed to collect the dead bodies from the camp by the security personnel dated 22 December 2023. He prayed to initiate a judicial magisterial inquiry, which is to be strictly monitored by the NHRC" The complaint raises concerns over grave human rights violations and the failure of authorities to ensure accountability.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the NHRC had earlier directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, to submit the judicial magisterial inquiry report . However, despite multiple reminders, the requisite reports were not furnished.
In the last order commission observed " The Commission takes it seriously and directs its registry to issue theconditional summons to the DC and the SSP, Poonch, J&K u/s 13 of the
Protection of the Human Rights Act, 1993, for personal appearance".
"This step reinforces the Commission's commitment to upholding justice and ensuring accountability in cases of alleged human rights violations.This action by the NHRC is a crucial step towards enforcing transparency and accountability;" said Advocate Nikhil Padha

08/02/2025

Complaint Filed In Nhrc Seeking Their Intervention In Two Recent Civilian Deaths In J&K

Nikhil Padha, Advocate and Founder of the Organization for Human Rights & Harmony (OHRH), has formally lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding two recent incidents in Jammu & Kashmir, alleging grave violations of human rights by security forces.
The complaint highlights the deaths of two civilians—25-year-old Makhan Din from Kathua and 32-year-old Waseem Ahmad Mir from Sopore—allegedly due to police and military actions. These incidents have sparked outrage and raised concerns about the treatment of civilians by security forces in the region.
“These incidents are a blatant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Nikhil Padha. “We demand a transparent and independent investigation into both cases to ensure justice is served and accountability is upheld.”
The complaint calls upon the NHRC to take immediate cognizance of the matter and issue directives, including:
• A judicial probe by a sitting or retired High Court judge.
• Suspension of accused personnel during the investigation to prevent evidence tampering.
• Establishment of an independent oversight committee to monitor security forces’ conduct in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Organization for Human Rights & Harmony (OHRH) urges authorities to act swiftly in addressing these grave allegations and ensure justice for the victims and their families.

08/02/2024

All 3 SRs In Uri Main Non-functional, Local Populace Forced To Drink Contaminated Water

Zaffer Iqbal

Uri, Feb 8 (GNS): All the three Sanitary Reservoirs (SR) constructed in Uri Main are lying in a non-functional state, forcing the thousands of local populace to drink contaminated water.

A delegation of the local population told GNS that the department has spent a huge amount of money to construct three SRs in Uri main town in the year 2018-2019, but none has been made functional so far.

They said that the department has constructed the water plants in Beigh Mohalla Uri, which is 120,000 gallons, Raja Mohalla Uri, which is 60,000 gallons and Upper Banjara Uri, which is 10,000 gallons.

The delegation said that there is already a filter plant in the town of Uri which has become inoperable and is not being fully repaired by the department and they are forced to drink contaminated water. He said that the water scheme of the town of Uri has also been damaged which is not being repaired for a considerable period of time now.

Similarly GNS learnt that a filter plant of 70,000 gallons was constructed for the Uri water scheme in Na**la village Uri in the year 2019, which also has not yet been made functional.

In addition, a filter plant and PST (Pre-sedimentation Tank) construction for Saidpora Uri water scheme in Na**la village of Uri in 2019 which is also yet to be made functional.

People from various areas of Uri and Boniyar have complained that although the department has constructed filter plants, it is a mockery of the name of the filter plant and SR because some of these filter plants are not made functional from the last several years and some which are functional are not fully covered.

Peoples said a dead cat was recovered from the filter plant in Gharkote Uri last few days back. People said that animals entering these filter plants has now become a routine.

The people of Dabkulla Garkote Uri said that they are crying for a single drop of water but the department is not taking any steps for them. They said that they used to get water from the Bandi area but now the water resource of the area is dry.

They said that we have repeatedly told the officers of the department to provide water to their area, but no solution has been found.
People of Bagna Khan Mohalla, Lachipora, Noorkhah, Kenchan, Salambad, Thajal Uri and other areas said that they are facing acute shortage of water but the department is not paying any heed.

They said that engineers of the concerned department have no plan regarding the scheme because the department left earlier schemes aside and laying the other in the same area and wasting government money and not doing any work when it is needed.

When contacted, Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Sub division Uri Irfan Ahmad told GNS that, “I am aware about two SRS which were constructed in Uri town and both will be made functional through the Amrut scheme whose survey is under progress. “We have to fetch the water for the two SRs from Na**la”, he said.

Regarding the uncovered filter plants in Uri, the Exen said that he will talk with the AEE concerned to look into the matter at an earliest. (GNS)

04/11/2023

Srinagar based graphic designer felicitated by DIPR Jammu.Musaib Yousuf (24) hailing from Nowgam area of Srinagar, clinched the second position in the competition held at the DIPR office in Jammu.https://www.knskashmir.com/

03/11/2023