South Asia Citizens Web

Bhopal Accident - In this short 3 minute video, learn about the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the world’s worst industrial disaster, that took place in the city of Bhopal, India.

We hope that the Indian Government will take a firm stand supporting the rights of the people of Sri Lanka, especially those most affected by the war. This, in turn, we hope, will generate the political pressure needed to ensure that the basic rights of the people in Sri Lanka are assured to them.

Fake encounter killing of innocent people at the hands of the personnel of the armed forces has become customary in those parts of the country where the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act is in force. Rarely do such incidents come to light except when some individual members of the armed forces come forward and speak the truth out. Only recently an army jawan, Abbas Hussain Shah of 161 Battalion of the Territorial Army in Gauntmullah, Baramullah, who himself was involved in the conspiracy, confirmed the killing of three youths on April 30 at Machil sector along the LoC in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. These young men were earlier lured from their village three days ago by a former special police officer and his accomplice on April 27 in the name of providing them work with the army, and handed over to an army Major, Opinder, for the set up encounter. After the fake encounter got exposed a Colonel was removed from his command and Major Opinder was suspended. The Army officers had claimed that the three young men were Pakistani terrorists and were killed during an encounter while infiltrating into the country, though inquiries later revealed that they were residents of Nadihal in Baramullah district.

With the June 7 Bhopal judgment, India has been reduced to a Fourth World country. This story of shame can only end if the government appeals against the judgment, gets proper criminal liability restored and seriously pursues the case against all the accused, notes Praful Bidwai.

The charges of murder leveled against a major of the 4 Rajput Regiment cannot but shock. The diabolic act involved three locals, including a special police officer, bringing three unsuspecting youth from Nadihal village, in Jammu & Kashmir, to the army camp on the promise of jobs. Instead, they were murdered on April 30 and passed off as militants. Unfortunately, the government, which has a declared attitude of zero- tolerance to violations of human rights, is dragging its feet in acting on several such instances.