London: Stoke White a London based International law firm filed an application on 20 Jan, Thursday with the United Kingdom Police over seeking arrest of Indian officials over their alleged involvement in war crimes in Kashmir. According to the law firm it has submitted extensive evidences of involvement of Indian forces headed by Army Gen Manoj Mukund Narvane and H M Amit Shah in torture, kidnapping and killing of activists, journalists and civilians in the region.
The application also accuses eight other unnamed Senior Indian Military officials of direct involvement in war crimes and tortures based on over 2000 testimonies traced between 2020-2021states the firm.
The application to London police is made under “Universal jurisdiction” which authorises countries to prosecute individuals accused of crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.
The law firm believes that its application of action against Indian authorities in a foreign country is first of its kind and hopes the reports would convince British Police to open an investigation and ultimately arrests the officials when they enter in U.K said Director of International law at Stoke White Hakan Camuz.
Hakan Camuz, Director of International law at Stoke White, a London based International law firm.
Camuz states “We are asking the U.K government to do their duty and investigate and arrest them for what they did based on the evidences we supplied to them. We want to be held accountable”.
Investigations held by the firm suggest that the abuse has worsened during the pandemic. However the application was made on behalf of family of Zia Mustafa, a jailed militant, victim of extrajudicial killing by the authorities in 2021 and Muhammed Ahsan Untoo, a human rights campaigner who was allegedly tortured before his arrest.
Details of the report also include arrest of Khurram Parvez, 42 YO, prominent rights activist of Kashmir who highlighted the use of violence and torture by Indian troops in the region.
Nevertheless Indian government has denied the allegations of human rights violations and says any such claim are propaganda by separatist to demean Indian troops in the region.
