The Hindu : National : “Army will uphold human rights while fighting militancy”

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Friday, Nov 02, 2007
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“Army will uphold human rights while fighting militancy”

Shujaat Bukhari

AWANTIPORE: The Army is committed to upholding human rights while fighting militancy and there has not been a single custodial killing at its hands in the last one year, according to General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt. Gen. A.S. Sekhon.

He was talking to journalists after inaugurating a seminar on human rights, organised by the Victor Force of the Rashtriya Rifles on Thursday. Gen. Sekhon said the Army was conscious of the human rights issue and “every effort was being made to sensitise the officers and the ranks in this regard.”

This seminar was part of a series the 15 Corps was conducting throughout Kashmir to ensure that no damage was caused to human dignity during counter insurgency operations. “We follow the ten commandments of the Chief of the Army Staff in this regard. But there are some aberrations but we take immediate action,” he said.

Referring to an incident in Bandipore early this year when civilians caught two soldiers who allegedly tried to molest a woman, he said: “The court martial of one of the accused is in progress and the findings will be made public. We do not hide anything and 85 people have been punished in the last few years after they were found guilty.”

On the case of the recent killing of a teacher in Kupwara, he said a soldier was arrested and the proceedings had begun.

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