Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action Required
4. Sample letter
5. Addresses for sample letters

1. Summary

The latest violence in the ongoing endemic oppression by Indian troops occurred on Kashmir University’s campus. Students and spectators were beaten and fired at during a cricket match in an act of unprovoked violence. Put pressure on the enquiry that has been set up to ensure Indian police do not have the liberty to do this again.

2. Background

Occupied by Indian forces since 1949, Kashmir has been an ongoing disputed and violence-ridden region. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have been arrested, tortured and murdered by Indian troops who regularly patrol the towns. Often labelled as “foreign terrorists” they are killed in what is termed fake encounters and thrown into mass graves, leaving their families with no knowledge of their fate.

Of the latest crimes, are the aggressive aerial firings and beatings that took place by Indian police on Kashmir University’s campus on 14 May 2012 in Srinagar. This was directed at the cricket players’ team after a ball was mistakenly thrown into the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. The Indian police responsible for guarding the residence first abused the player who attempted to retrieve the ball and within an hour, several other policemen entered the University campus.

The police began beating up the players and spectators and opened fire. Majid Ahmad, captain of the cricket team said, “We were shocked when one of the policemen opened fire. The bullets hit the wickets. They could have hit any of us.” Although the constanble has been suspended and an enquiry has been setup, pressure must be placed on those in charge to ensure this is not allowed to happen again. Put pressure on the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in your country and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir.

3. Action Required

Write to the following authorities requesting to urge the Indian government to end the atrocities committed against the Kashmiri people.

a) Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir.

b) Indian Deputy High Commissioner in your country. UK campaigners will find the appropriate address and email on the sample letter below.
 
4. Sample letter ——————————————————————————————
A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.
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a. Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir

Attn: Professor Talat Ahmad
The University of Kashmir
Hazratbal
Srinagar – 190006
J&K, India

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Dear Professor Talat Ahmad,

Re: Police fire at and beat Kashmir student cricket players at university

I am deeply concerned over the ongoing violence that is taking place in Kashmir. For decades, Indian troops have committed barbarian acts of violence towards Kashmiri civilians.  Thousands of men have been arrested, tortured and murdered having committed no crime.

I am sure you are aware of the beatings of cricket players that occurred recently on your campus. As a result of a simple mistake by the players throwing a ball into your residence, the Indian police took the liberty of attacking both the players and spectators. People were beaten and shots were fired putting everyone at high risk. You have a duty of care towards the students of the University so that a minor act of a ball thrown into your residence should not be followed with such draconian actions. Standards and protocols of the University must be re evaluated.

I urge you to put pressure on the enquiry committee to clearly understand why the police conducted themselves in this manner towards the students. This ongoing oppression of Kashmiri individuals by Indian police is endemic and is a clear violation of human rights law. Please ensure such acts of unprovoked anger and violence do not occur again in such an educational institution.

I look forward to hearing back from you regarding this urgent matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

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b. Indian Deputy High Commissioner in your country. (UK campaigners can write using the address supplied below, email: ukemb@mofa.gov.sa)

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Deputy High Commissioner Mr Rajesh N. Prasad
India House
Aldwych
London
WC2B 4NA

Your Excellency,

Re Police fire at and beat Kashmir student cricket players at university

I am deeply concerned over the ongoing violence that is taking place in Kashmir. For decades, acts of violence have been unjustly committed towards Kashmiri civilians.  Thousands of men have been arrested, tortured and murdered having committed no crime.

Of the latest crimes, are the aggressive aerial firings and beatings that took place by Indian police on Kashmir University’s campus on 14 May 2012 in Srinagar. This was directed at the cricket players’ team after a ball was mistakenly thrown into the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. The Indian police responsible for guarding the residence first abused the player who attempted to retrieve the ball and within an hour, several other policemen entered the University campus. The police began beating up the players and spectators and opened fire. Although the constable has been suspended and an enquiry has been setup, pressure must be placed on those in charge to ensure this is not allowed to happen again.

I urge you to put pressure on the enquiry committee to clearly understand why the police conducted themselves in this manner towards the students. This ongoing oppression of Kashmiri individuals by Indian police is endemic and is a clear violation of human rights law. Please ensure such acts of unprovoked anger and violence do not occur again in such an educational institution. Explanations must be given and Indian troops who are left to patrol Kashmiri neighbourhoods must be controlled.

I look forward to hearing back from you regarding this urgent matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

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“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

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