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C I V I L L I B E RT I E S
has been asked to prepare a list of terminally and dangerously ill patients in
order to arrange specialist treatment and financial assistance out of the Chief
Minister's Fund. The Integrated Child Development Services Centres (ICDS)
provided at the camps are being strengthened. Efforts are also on to improve
the laboratory and library facilities in the migrant schools. The Commission
has indicated its willingness to support a fresh proposal of the State
Government to enhance the monthly subsistence cash allowance provided to
the residents of the camps.
4.29 It is unfortunately evident, however, that there remain elements in
existence who are determined to commit acts of terror in the State, despite,
and perhaps because of, the efforts to restore peace and confidence. Paragraph
4.3 above lists some of the more vicious incidents that occurred during the
reporting period, among them the outrageous terrorist attack that occurred on
24 March 2003 in village Nadimarg, district Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir,
claiming the lives of 24 Kashmiri Pandits, including 11 women and children.
4.30 Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports in respect of this matter,
including reports indicating that the victims were murdered despite the
presence of a police picket in the vicinity, the Commission expressed its deepest
anguish and concern over the incident. It also issued notice on 26 March 2003
to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir, and
to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs calling for reports on the tragedy
and an indication of the measures taken, or planned to be taken, to enhance
the security of the affected community and to ameliorate the sufferings of the
families of those who had been killed or traumatized. The Commission further
noted that an unspeakable act of violence had taken innocent lives once again,
testimony to the depravity of those who engaged in terrorist acts. The
Commission unequivocally condemned such acts and their perpetrators as
deeply hostile to all human rights, including the right to life itself. The
Commission observed that the attack was doubly reprehensible as it had taken
place at a time when fresh efforts were underway to bring peace and
reconciliation to the State of Jammu & Kashmir, objectives to which the
terrorists were fundamentally opposed.
4.31 As the Commission also received petitions in respect of this tragic
incident from the Kashmiri Samiti and the Panun Kashmir Movement, copies
of those petitions were also transmitted to the concerned authorities for their
consideration and comments in connection with the reports that they were
requested to prepare for the Commission.
N AT I O N A L H U M A N R I G H T S C O M M I S S I O N