Serious human rights violations have been reported in the village of Gran Katli Batnara in the Patka area of Pakistan’s capital Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Several victims have leveled allegations of kidnapping, illegal detention, extortion and torture against an influential numberer and his alleged gang.
The victims, Mir Zaman, Abdul Latif, Azizur Rahman, Abdul Rehman, Abdul Qayyum, Muhammad Suleman, Muhammad Hanif and Muhammad Ilyas, told the media that an influential numberer in the village has illegally turned his house into a “police station” where opponents and vulnerable people are detained.
According to Muhammad Hanif, he and his daughter were allegedly kept in detention for eight months, from where they barely managed to escape. He said that despite the registration of a case, the accused were released on bail while the victims themselves faced pressure.
Mir Zaman alleged that his 13-year-old daughter was abducted and taken to Kohistan Battagram in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where she was allegedly sold. The victim’s family claimed that they were able to bring the girl back after 12 days, but no effective action was taken by the police.
Other victims also claimed that girls are abducted and sold in different areas for lakhs of rupees and that an organized network is active in this entire process.
According to the victims, despite registering cases, the police instead of taking action pressurizes for reconciliation. In one case, it was also claimed that a fine of Rs. 500,000 was imposed by a jirga.
The victims alleged that the local police are allegedly backing the accused, due to which an atmosphere of fear and panic has been created in the area.
According to the local people, the situation in the village has deteriorated to such an extent that children have been prevented from studying in the mosque, while the mosque has been locked for a month. Some victims have also leveled allegations of attacks on homes, stone pelting and pressure for divorce.
The victims have demanded that the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, the Chief Secretary and the Inspector General of Police take immediate notice of the incident, take strict action against those involved and provide protection to the affected families.
The number system, which has been a part of the rural administrative structure in the past, is now under criticism due to allegations of misuse of power in many areas. According to experts, such incidents raise serious questions about the state writ and the justice system.
This report is based on the statements of the victims, the official position has not yet been revealed.
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