WASHINGTON. Mar 2: Violence and terrorism threaten India a embattled K.iahmtr region with a cata* trophic breakdown of medical care two US human rights or giinlsatlon* arc warning, re port* Al’.

A "campaign of terror against civilians including n« iiilx-rs of the medical com niunity" by Indian government security forces Is mainly to blame, they said, but militant Muslim separatists and insurgents. some backed by Pakistan. arc also at fault.

Physicians for Human Rights, based in Boston, and Asia Watch, of New York and Washington, urged the India government to grant tmmedi alt access to the International Committee of the Red Cross for medical and humanitarian relief needed to slave off a civilian medical and health

crisis

Their 6O-page Joint report rck used on Sunday I* based on a 1.1< ( finding mission to Kashmir last October. It con tallied Interviews with physl i lans and other health workers describing terror, widespread torture and shootings by sol tilers In ant!-insurgency swe eps

Indian security forces In vulvcd In counter-Insurgency operation* In Kashmir have committed humalT rights abuse* with impunity and have routinely violated International hurfuin Harlan law* which re quire that medical workers, us well as the wounded and sl< k. be protected", tt said

Security teams Wert at-• used of blocking ambulant <« trying lo carry wounded peo ph io irtnergency treatment .hkI ejecting wounded from liospit.il*. sometime* ripping oil ih« ir bandages or discon

netting them from life-sustaining treatment.

Such treatment violates nK-dical ethics and neutrality and International codes acknowledged by India, includ ing Geneva convention provisions entitling the sick and wounded to humane treatment without regard to their status in a conflict, the report said. I “By attempting to excuse sin h gross violations as kglti mate means of law enforce -uent , ihc government has signalled that these abuses arc condoned.“ tt asserted.

Indian government com nant and rebuttal were incur porated into the report. In < ludlng a charge that Muslim terrorists In "a blatant misuse of rtllglcn have forced an ex odus of nearly 250 000 tnno cent people from Kashmir the past three years th a case of ethic cleansing al tt* worst.