European parliament members write to pm modi, seek ban on pellet guns, repealing of afspa

Over 50 members of the European parliament have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought a ban on the use of pellet guns in Kashmir. “We, the undersigned, in our capacity as

elected Members ofthe European Parliament, are writing to you to express our grave concern aboutthe past and ongoing human rights violations against people in Kashmir, asreported in a recent

OHCHR1 report,” read the letter, a copy of which is withGreater Kashmir. The members said they were particularly concerned about theusage of pellet shotguns, responsible for blinding,

killing and traumatizinghundreds of people in Kashmir. “We particularly note the tragic case of 19-month old childwho was gravely injured by a pellet gun (BBC report). We are concerned that

TheArmed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act 1990 (AFSPA) and the Jammuand Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978 (PSA) give security forces virtual immunityagainst prosecution for any

human rights violation,” read the letter further. “Therefore, we, the undersigned MEPs, urge the Indiangovernment to immediately end the use of pellet-firing shotguns in Jammu andKashmir and

bring all relevant Indian laws into compliance with internationalhuman rights standards,” added the letter. “…urgently repeal the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir)Special Powers Act, 1990

and amend the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act,1978 to ensure its compliance with international human rights law”. “…provide full and effective reparation and rehabilitationto those who

have been injured by pellet-firing shotguns, and to the familiesof those killed.” The members asked the Indian government to establishindependent and impartial investigations into all

“accidents where the use ofpellet-firing shotguns led to deaths or serious injuries.”