While revisiting the un-probed crimes of rape and other human rights violations committed in the last nearly three decades by men in uniform. The latter have been enjoying impunity for all crimes against humanity including sexual offences simply on the pretext of counter insurgency. Konan Poshpora incident did not only manifest the ugly pattern of gross human rights abuse but also laid down the foundation of blanket impunity accorded to the security forces. Whether it is violence against women, cases of disappearances, torture, extra-judicial killings or cold blooded murders, the security forces since the days of Konan Poshpora have not been held accountable, reflecting a complete failure of the system that runs counter to the democratic spirit of the country.
Even after 27 years of the inhuman and beastly act in Kunan-Poshpora, neither has any case been registered against the accused nor any involved army officer or personnel arrested or brought to book. This episode is deliberately hushed up and the successive state governments be it NC or PDP theyt have played a criminal role in this regard as till date they never made any sincere attempt to register case against the culprits.
These cases reveal the absence of a system of accountability within the armed forces through impunity that is ensured from the highest levels. Such brazen patterns of lack of accountability find a manifestation in street violence and increase in the gun culture. The minimal requirement for ensuring normalcy and calm in the Valley requires a fair dealing of its long list of human rights abuse. It is therefore important to press for re-investigation of all such crimes against humanity starting from Konan Poshpora days.
