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NHRC to probe Wandhama massacre

The National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday decided to conduct an on-the-spot investigation into the Wandhama massacre.

After hearing representatives of the Kashmiri people, the Commission's three-member bench, headed by Justice M N Venkatachaliah, asked its director general (investigation) to proceed to the spot immediately.

The Commission also issued notices to Union Home Secretary B P Singh and the chief secretary and director general of police of Jammu and Kashmir on the safety of the minorities in the valley.

It asked the state to take special care of Vinod Kumar Dhar, the lone survivor of the incident. The boy's closest relatives should be located and he should be entrusted to their care. The expense of his upkeep should be borne by the government.

The other Pandits should be given 'adequate protection'. And the state should report back what security measures it had adopted. The Commission would hear the matter again after receiving the government's action-taken report as well as the one from its own investigators.

On Tuesday, the Pandits had submitted that the authorities may brainwash Vinod to get a version that would suit them. They also wanted the Commission to take up the matter with international human rights bodies, and help them find a solution for their grievances.

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