Friday, March 29, 2024

Parveena Ahangar writes to UN demanding protection of APDP following NIA raid

Prominent Kashmiri activist Parveena Ahangar on behalf of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), wrote a letter to the United Nations on Friday demanding the protection of APDP and the victim families it supports in the light of punitive raid by NIA on 28 October 2020.

On Wednesday from morning 8:30 to evening 3:30, a team of officers from the National Investigation Agency(NIA), Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) and Jammu and Kashmir Police, accompanied by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers conducted a raid in the office of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in Hyderpora, Srinagar.

In the letter, she highlighted that the raid on APDP is a desperate attempt to taint and criminalise the human rights work of APDP and to make victims and families of human rights violations vulnerable.

“APDP does not engage in any illegal activities. The allegations are intended to deter APDP’s engagement with the UN and APDP’s work on raising accountability and justice on human rights violations and the long-standing demand for justice for victims of enforced disappearances,” the letter said.

The NIA in its press release stated that the raids were on organisations for “raising funds in India and abroad in the name of charitable activities and then using those funds for carrying out secessionist and separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.”

It also claims, “Several incriminating documents and electronic devices have been seized during searches.”

“APDP’s work is funded by grants from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT). and used to provide for medical, educational needs of victims’ families, salaries of staff, etc. All the activities of APDP fall within the scope of the UN grant. Accounts of expenditure and receipts are detailed in the utilisation report submitted to the United Nations each year.” The letter added.

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