Indian state terrorism, killings, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, and other grave human rights violations have witnessed a surge to an alarming proportion following Narendra Modi-led Hindutva Indian government’s illegal move of revoking the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
A report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, today, said that since the illegal revocation of IIOJK’s special status on August 5, 2019 till February 2024, the Indian troops martyred 857 Kashmiris including 28 young boys. It said that the freedom icon Syed Ali Gilani and senior Hurriyat leaders, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Altaf Ahmed Shah, were among dozens of Kashmiris who died in the Indian forces’ custody during the period.
It said that at least 2,416 people were critically injured due to the use of brute force including firing of bullets, pellets and teargas shells by Indian troops, paramilitary and police personnel on peaceful demonstrators and mourners in the territory.
The report said the killings by the troops since 05 August 2019 till date have rendered 65 women widowed and 180 children orphaned. It said, the troops damaged over 1,116 houses and structures and molested or disgraced 133 women and arrested 22,490 people including aged woman and half a dozen girls during cordon and search operations across the occupied territory during the period.
The report pointed out that the killings since 05 August 2019 have been higher than those in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019. It said, most of the victims were killed in fake encounters and in custody during violent cordon and search operations across the length and breadth of the territory. It said, many youths were picked up from their houses and then eliminated after being labeled as mujahideen or over ground workers of ongoing struggle for right to self-determination and Hurriyat organizations.—KMS
