Amnesty voices Kashmir rights fears

Mufti Sayeed was urged to get tough by Delhi

Amnesty International has expressed fears that the new government of Indian-administered Kashmir is backtracking on pledges to probe human rights violations.

The organisation said that any policy of impunity for violations by the feared Special Operations Group (SOG) was ''unacceptable''.

The organisation is disappointed the government may be retreating from its commitment to uphold human rights

Amnesty International

Amnesty said it was ''disturbed by reports that the government is to break the promise... to investigate all reported cases of custodial killings and violations of human rights''.

Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who came to power in the November, had promised to curb the SOG.

However, in a speech on Monday, he said the notorious counter-insurgency police would simply be ''reoriented".

Reforms unclear

The SOG is made up of local policemen who have volunteered to work against Muslim rebels and has a bad reputation among Kashmiris, in particular for extortion.

Tens of thousands have died in Kashmir since 1989

Correspondents say Mufti Sayeed seems to have altered his policy after some Delhi ministers accused him of being soft on militants.

He did not spell out on Monday what the SOG reforms would be.

Amnesty International criticised Mufti Sayeed for reportedly saying that an amnesty would be available to those who have perpetrated abuses.

It said: ''The organisation is disappointed that the government may be retreating from its commitment to uphold human rights.''

More than 35,000 people have died in Indian-controlled Kashmir since an anti-Indian rebellion began in 1989.