Attacks on Kashmiris: NHRC seeks reports from Centre

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday sought reports from the Centre and some states over reports of the attack on Kashmiris following Pulwama terror strike, saying such incidents would only "tarnish" the image of the country and "destroy" democratic fabric.

The commission has sought reports from Union Home Secretary and Secretary of Ministry of Human Resource Development as well as from state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Delhi.

"The Commission has observed that the media reports on the incidents, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights. The contents therein are shocking and very disheartening," an NHRC statement said.

"Giving such bad treatment by targeting people of a particular region of the country by some elements will destroy the democratic fabric of the country. India is one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse nations in the world and has a rich tolerant culture, which is identified and respected across the world. Such incidents would only tarnish the image of the country," it said.

The NHRC asked the Centre to "act quickly" by taking action against the miscreants while emphasising the need for sensitisation of local authorities, police agencies and the general public to maintain law and order "at every cost".

The statement noted that there was an "atmosphere of grief and anger" across the country after the terrorist attack but even in extreme situation, a civilised society "cannot accept such kind of violence" by the people against their fellow countrymen.

"Rustication, suspension or action against the students, as mentioned in the news reports, can be a matter of investigation on merits but the incidents of ill-treatment of the Kashmiri people in different parts of the country is definitely in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India, which protects equality before the law and equal protection of laws within the territory of India," the statement said.

Quoting media reports, the NHRC said HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had dismissed reports of alleged harassment of Kashmiri students outside their state. However, it said, it has also been reported that two Dehradun-based educational institutions have stated on record that they will not admit Kashmiri students in future as the colleges, where the Kashmiri students are studying, were threatened by the mob.

As per media reports, it said several Kashmiri students, migrants, traders and professionals have had to pack up and leave from different parts of the country particularly, Uttarakhand and Haryana.