In 20 yrs, 124 Army men held guilty of rights violations in

As many as 124 Army personnel, including 41 officers, have been found guilty of human rights violations and awarded exemplary punishments in the past 20 years in Jammu and Kashmir.
"As many as 124 personnel, including 41 officers, found guilty of these violations were expeditiously tried by Army courts and awarded exemplary punishments ranging from dismissal from service without any service benefits to imprisonment (during last over 20 years)," PRO, Ministry of Defence, Northern Command, Lt Col Rajesh Kalia said today.
During the past 20 years, 1,524 allegations of human rights violations against Army personnel serving in Northern Command have been received, Lt Col Kalia said.

"Each and every allegation was enquired into by an independent and autonomous body and 42 of these allegations were found to be true," he said.
In his message on the eve of Human Rights Day today, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra, GOC-in-C, Northern Command directed all troops in Jammu & Kashmir to ensure Zero Human Rights violations during conduct of counter Terrorist Operations.
The Indian Army has one of the finest record for ensuring that human rights of its citizens are protected and the importance given to human rights is evident from the fact that a human rights branch at the Army headquarters has been functioning since March 1993 and such branches exist in formations up to Brigade and Sector level.

"There are a few ongoing cases which are being closely monitored, ensuring Rule of Law and proceedings as enunciated by the Army Act," Lt Col Kalia said.
"Anyone found guilty shall face the law. This amply demonstrates that all cases of alleged human rights violations are thoroughly investigated and personnel found guilty are promptly punished," the Defence PRO said.