Srinagar, Dec 18: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday rebuffed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s claim that not a single case of custodial torture had been reported during his tenure.
 “Omar Abdullah’s statement that no incident of custodial torture has occurred during his regime is a blatant lie. I want to maintain that sixty per cent of Kashmiris who were arrested during past 2-years have been subjected to torture in custody many persons have even breathed their last in the torture chambers,” Geelani said in a statement.  
 Pertinently, the Chief Minister on Friday had distanced himself from the WikiLeaks disclosure on custodial torture in Kashmir in 2005 and indirectly blamed the then government led by opposition PDP for the human rights abuse.
 Elaborating, Geelani said out of 150 persons who were killed in 2010, Sameer Ahmad of Batamaloo, Rafiq Ahmad Bangroo, Umar Qayoom of Soura, Tariq Ahmad Dar of Panzla Rafiabad and Inayat Ahmad Khan of Dalgate were arrested and allegedly thrashed to death.  “By ignoring these killings and sorrowful incidents like Shopian and Machil, Omar Abdullah has demonstrated shamelessness. I want to remind him that majority of the people including students who were arrested since June this year have been subjected torture in Police Stations. Even the Hurriyat leaders lodged at Cargo had to undergo mental torture,” he said.
  “Custodial torture has been common during past 63-years and it reached its extreme in past two decades,” Geelani added.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST