GK News Service

Srinagar, May 15: Chandaw or The Search, a documentary film produced by a media organisation, Global Witness, for the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in colloboration with J&K Coalition of Civil Society, was screened off here today.

The screening ceremony was inaugurated by Mughli, 65, whose only child, Nazir Ahmad Teeli went missing 12 years back. Her pathetic tale in her own words set the setting for the hour long documentary. Such documentaries have been produced in several Asian, South American and European nations to highlight the global phenomenon of enforced disappearances.

The tragic plight of the families of disappeared persons in their own words, opinion of human rights experts, a cabinet minister and academics have been documented to highlight the problem.

Screening was done today on the occasion of Eid Milad Un Nabi (SAW). Speakers on the occasion said the day was selected as Prophet (SAW) was first to champion the concept of human rights.

Addressing the gathering, the patron of APDP, Parvez Imroz said, documents related to the cases of enforced disappearances were sent to chairman of National Human Rights Commission, justice Verma, two years back. However, no action was taken, he said adding issuing a notice to state government, after tremendous international pressure, was a cosmetic measure.

Imroz accused Mufti government of reneging on its earlier statements about the enforced disappearances. In the state assembly, Mufti declared more than 3000 persons were missing and later reduced the figure to 60 during prime ministers Valley visit, Imroz said. " There are 16 cases of enforced disappearances in the Bijbehara, home town of chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, alone", Zahir-ud-din, author of "Did They Vanish In Thin Air" said.

Parveena Ahangar, president of APDP said, " I fainted when Mufti Sayeed said there were only 60 cases of disappearances. Every week we get a new case of custodial disapperance. Courts have turned deaf towards the misery of thousands of families".

A number of people in the audience, including some journalists, broke down while witnessing the plight of affected families documented in the film.

The CD version of the documentary is available at the office of J&K Coalition of Civil Society near Amira Kadal Bridge here for Rs 50.