Srinagar, 20 Oct 2021. A two-day seminar on “Human Rights Violations by
terrorists and how these have impacted Kashmiri citizens in the last 30 years”,
commenced today at BB Cantt, Srinagar. Twenty one subject experts, including
research scholars, social activists, government officials and intellectuals from within
and outside Kashmir, having proficiency in the subject, are participating,
In his opening address, Lt Gen DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps said that while
rightly the State is responsible and accountable for maintenance of high standards of
Human Rights in all activities, it is a fact that Human Rights get curtailed in a conflict
region due to security concerns. The curtailment of the Human Rights is pushed by
the terrorists' nexus, which uses the power of the gun to establish its writ on the
citizens. J&K has seen acts of curtailment of Human Rights violations by terrorists
due to threats, killings, disrupting education and economic activity and denial of
freedom of speech. He highlighted that the local, national and international HR
groups and media houses, who have been vocal about alleged human rights in the
past, have been totally silent about the recent killings of eleven innocents in Kashmir
Valley. He exhorted the audience to question and hold the Pakistan affiliates
responsible for the denial of basic rights of economic activity, education,
entertainment and freedom. He further remarked that the aim of the seminar is to
discuss these and deliberate on the way ahead.
In his keynote address, Lt Gen Raj Shukla, GOC-in-C, ARTRAC spoke about
Jammu & Kashmir’s deep and organic connect in geostrategic realm in Indian sub-
continent. He spoke about intrinsic civilizational, literary, cultural and historic connect
that J&K has enjoyed being part of India, in the past five millennia. The GOC-in-C,
ARTRAC asked the society to reverse the sense of supposed alienation and
promote a multicultural and inclusive society. He asked them to stand in unison and
raise their voice against the Pakistani nexus which denies Kashmiri people the basic
human rights, that are intrinsic to any civilized and just society.
The seminar is being conducted over five sessions over two days and is being
attended by large number of people from all walks of life. The seminar proceedings
were broadcast live to civil and military audience at Kupwara, Baramulla, Awantipur,
Sharifabad, Delhi, Shimla, Nagrota and Udhampur. The talk by the panelists was
also streamed live over Chinar Corps Facebook page.