Paradigm of Impunity: Two Months in the Life of the 20 Grenadiers

Ashok Agrwaal

Abstract

This Article is extracted from my larger report on the anatomy of State impunity in Kashmir, leading to the complete failure of the guarantee of right to life contained in Article 21 of the Indian constitution. Between 29 March 1997 and 23 May 1997, the 20 Grenadiers, part of an elite regiment of the Indian Army, arrested at least fifteen persons. There is evidence to show that the police were aware of these arrests by the 20 Grenadiers and had repeatedly enquired about the whereabouts of the arrested persons from the various Army Commands stationed in the valley. The Article examines the cases of nine of these persons, all of whom were subsequently disappeared.