Top rights advocate slams Indian army chief's 'criminal leadership' in Kashmir

Kenneth Roth took exception blatant position General Bipin took on Kashmiri being used as human shield

NEW YORK: A top human rights advocate has condemned Indian army chief's statement justifying the use of Kashmiris as human shields against protestors as "criminal leadership."

Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of New York-based Human Rights Watch [HRW] took exception to the blatant position Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has taken on the issue of an Indian major using a Kashmiri man as human shield in the disputed territory.



"Indian army chief shows criminal leadership, backing as 'innovative' troops' use of Kashmir man as a human shield," Roth wrote on his Twitter account.

Indian army chief shows criminal leadership, backing as "innovative" troops' use of Kashmir man as a human shield. https://t.co/majte50Fis pic.twitter.com/cHq5D2tAdD

— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) May 29, 2017

Roth's tweet went viral as human rights activists and sympathisers of Kashmiri victims shared the post more than 1600 times on the social media platform.



The Indian army chief awarded a medal of commendation to Major Teetal Gogoi for adopting an 'innovative' approach in using the Kashmiri man as a human shield. He also told India's PTI news agency that the purpose of awarding Major Gogoi was to boost the morale of Indian troops in the territory, which is a UN-recognised disputed area.

General Rawat went on to say, "I wish these people, instead of throwing stones at us, were firing weapons at us. Then I would have been happy. Then I could do what I [want to do]."



The HRW chief, had earlier also criticised New Delhi for using brutal tactics against Kashmiri protestors. "Kashmir fighters are vastly diminished but India is responding to mere protestors with similar brutality," he wrote.

Kashmir fighters are vastly diminished but India is responding to mere protesters with similar brutality. https://t.co/3JDc3maYx0

— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) May 29, 2017

In addition, the UN Human Rights officials had condemned India's ban on social media as "collective punishment."