Srinagar, June 10: The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) Thursday said the Machil fake encounter expose has made it imperative for the government to come clear on the enforced disappearance of hundreds of Valley youth.
Staging a silent sit-in protest along with relatives of the disappeared persons here, APDP President Parveena Ahangar said the Machil fake encounter and other staged gun-battles in the past have exposed the claims of the armed forces about the killings of militants in encounters.
“They (armed forces) have killed innocent people for monetary benefits, medals and promotions. The government as well as the armed forces now have to come clear on all disappearances of youth in the past two decades,” said Parveena, whose teenager son, Javaid Ahmad, was picked up by forces in early ’90s and is missing since then.
The protesters, however, expressed hope that their loved would return some day.
“The whereabouts of the three youth from Nadihal were known in less than a month after their families reported their disappearance. But we couldn’t trace our loved ones for years together. This has given us hope that they are alive,” Parveena said, adding that APDP was ready to provide the details to the government about the battalions and postings of the armed forces who picked up their loved ones.
She said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s questioning the authenticity of the encounter killings during a television interview has given them hope that they may come to know about their kin.
“We hope that the issue of enforced disappearances will be scrutinized and the truth about them shall be out soon,” she said.
The relatives of other victims also pinned hope that they may come to know about their dear ones.
Khazira, whose son Muhammad Hussain, 21, was picked up by armed forces from Rainawari locality in old city here seven years back, said she was sure that her son would be back.
“I am sure he is alive and will be back. Every time a vehicle stops near my house, I get up if he has come,” she said.
The APDP organises a sit-in every month in Srinagar to press for the demand of whereabouts of their relatives.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST