London, Aug 20: Britain’s leading Indian and South Asian rights groups have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to intervene to stop “atrocities” against Kashmiri civilians by troopers.
The letter which, according to organisers, was handed over to the Indian High Commission here and also faxed to the Prime Minister’s office in New Delhi, expressed “grave concern” over what it described as “violent repression” of civilian demonstrators.
“The brutal murders of more than fifty unarmed people, a majority of them children and teenagers,  in the space of  two months, demonstrates a complete disregard for the humanity of the Kashmiri people  on the part of the security forces who, directed by the Indian state, are acting with complete impunity,” it said.
The letter was signed by representatives of South Asia Solidarity Group, Indian Workers’ Association (GB), the South Asian Alliance, the 1857 Committee, the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities and Imkaan, among others.
They said they were concerned that people were not even being allowed to express their anger over the killings of children in police firing.
“As representatives of Indian and South Asian diaspora organisations and civil liberties organisations in Britain we would urge you to act immediately to ensure an immediate end to the atrocities against Kashmiris by security forces,’’ the letter said demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

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