India: Attempted assassination of human rights defender Advocate Parvez Imroz
Front Line is gravely concerned following reports of the attempted assassination of human rights defender, Advocate Parvez Imroz, at his home on 30 June 2008. Advocate Parvez Imroz is the co-convener of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indianadministered Kashmir, and the co-founder and president of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.
Further Information
Posted 01/07/2008 On 30 June 2008, at 10.10 pm, Advocate Parvez Imroz and his family were at home in Kralpura village, approximately 8 kilometres from Srinagar, when unknown individuals arrived to their door. When asked to identify themselves, they requested that Advocate Parvez Imroz open the door. Following incidents of harassment and intimidation against members of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice the previous week, Advocate Parvez Imroz was concerned for his and his family's safety.
He contacted his brother who lives in the house next door and his brother responded by shining a torch at the front door of Advocate Parvez Imroz's home and again requesting that the individuals identify themselves. Advocate Parvez Imroz's nephew ran towards his uncle's home until a shot was fired by one of the persons at the door. A few seconds later a grenade was thrown at the door before it exploded into a fireball. Tear gas was also reportedly thrown at the house as well as an additional two shots being fired. At approximately 10.30 pm the perpetrators left the scene after beating one male neighbour.
Neighbours of Advocate Parvez Imroz and community members reported seeing one large armoured vehicle and two Gypsy cars, and men in uniform, both from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG).
Previously, on 20 and 21 June 2008, Advocate Parvez Imroz, together with Dr Angana Chatterji and other members of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice, were harassed and questioned by members of the Special Branch Kashmir (SBK) and Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) after visiting mass graves in Baramulla and Kupwara, in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Front Line believes that Advocate Parvez Imroz has been targeted as a result of his legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular his work against institutionalised violence and human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Advocate Parvez Imroz, his family and all members of the Tribunal team.
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
