Remove excessive security from J&K: Activists

A fact finding that visited Jammu and Kashmir recently has asked the government restore normalcy there by removing excessive security and helping people to know whereabouts of their missing children. It also demanded that the role of security forces be probed concerning the issue of missing persons.

New Delhi: A fact-finding team, which visited Jammu and Kashmir last week, has demanded removal of the excessive security forces and asked the government to sort out the the issue of missing persons at the earliest to rebuild trust among people.

The five-member team consisting of activists of National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan Delhi and Muslim Women's Forum, which visited several villages in four districts between September 17 and 21, also demanded a high level probe into the issue.

"Remove unprecedented security from Jammu and Kashmir. According to statistics, there is one security personnel for every four persons in Kashmir," one of the team members told the ETV Bharat while releasing their report on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir after removal of the controversial Article 370.

"Over 13,000 people, including children and youth, are missing ever since abrogation of the Article 370 (that provided special status to the erstwhile state)," she said, adding that it has resulted in a big trauma for women and children, and the government must take note of it.

Syeda Hameed, president of Muslim Women's Forum and member of the team, said: "The government should restore all communications in Kashmir, including internet and mobile phone". She also demanded restoration of Article 370 and 35A.

"All decisions about the political future of Jammu and Kashmir must be taken through a process of dialogue with the people of the region. A time bound inquiry be constituted to look into the excess committee by the Army," she said.

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