The Valley of Death: Exposing India’s 96,483 Murders and the Genocide in IIOJK

For over seven decades, the valley of Kashmir has been turned into the world’s largest open-air prison and a graveyard of human rights by an occupying force that knows no mercy. While the international community speaks of democracy and freedom, it remains silent as the Indian state carries out a systematic genocide in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This is not just a territorial dispute; it is a struggle for the survival of a people who have been betrayed by the global powers.

India has ignored every United Nations mandate, including Security Council Resolution 47 (1948) and the UNCIP resolution of 5 January 1949, which promised a free and impartial plebiscite. Instead of honoring this promise, India has used the 1972 Simla Agreement as a deceptive tool to keep the world away while it continues its butchery in the dark. As a Pakistani writer, it is my duty to expose this fascist face of India and present the hard data that proves the systematic extermination of Kashmiris.

The Magnitude of the Massacre: Decades of Slaughter

The numbers provided by the Kashmir Media Service (KMS) are a testament to the horror that Kashmiris face every single day. The magnitude of this violence is meant to break the spirit of a nation that only asks for its right to self-determination. Between January 1989 and December 2025, the occupation forces in IIOJK have murdered nearly a hundred thousand people.

KMS Human Rights Violations Report (1989 – 2025)

Nature of Violation	Total Count
Total Killings	96,483
Custodial / Fake Encounter Killings	7,411
Civilians Arrested / Detained	180,080
Structures / Houses Destroyed or Damaged	110,562
Women Widowed	22,991
Children Orphaned	108,007
Women Gang-Raped / Molested	11,269

These statistics show that the Indian army is engaged in an all-out war against the civilian population. Out of these killings, 7,411 were custodial murders or staged “fake encounters.” These are events where young men are picked up from their homes and shot in cold blood, only for the soldiers to be rewarded with medals and promotions. The destruction of 110,562 houses is a deliberate policy to break the economic back of the people in IIOJK.

The Illegal Siege and Terror Post-August 2019

The world saw the true face of Indian fascism on 5 August 2019, when India illegally revoked the special status of the region. This was a final declaration of war to change the demography of the land. Since that day, the siege has reached a level of cruelty that is unmatched in modern history.

Data on Violations Since 5 August 2019

Metric	Totals (Aug 2019 – Jan 2026)
Total Killings	1,050
Custodial / Fake Encounter Killings	287
Total Arrests	33,141
Arson (Houses and Shops Burnt)	1,168
Women Widowed	83
Children Orphaned	232
Women Molested / Raped	139

The latest data from January 2026 alone shows that 2 Kashmiris were martyred and 62 people were arrested. The prisons are overflowing as 33,141 people have been arrested since the revocation of Article 370. The occupation forces have also engaged in arson by burning down 1,168 houses and shops to terrorize the local population into submission.

A History Written in Blood: The Major Massacres

The history of Indian occupation in IIOJK is marked by horrific events where troops opened fire on peaceful crowds. We must never forget these historical massacres that India tries to erase.

• Gawkadal Massacre (1990): Indian troops opened fire on a peaceful protest, killing over 50 people.
• Zakoora and Tengpora (1990): Twin shootings resulted in 47 protesters being gunned down while marching toward the UN office.
• Sopore Massacre (1993): Amnesty International documented that at least 53 civilians were killed and over 400 shops were burnt to ashes in a reprisal attack.
• Handwara (1990): Approximately 21 innocent protesters were murdered in cold blood.
• Post-Burhan Wani Unrest (2016): Official records show 51 killed and over 9,042 injured in just a few months of protests.

The Pathribal incident of 2000, where 5 civilians were killed and labeled as militants, and the Machil fake encounter of 2010 are clear proofs of this military tyranny.

Blindness as a Policy: The Pellet Gun Horror

India has used weapons in IIOJK that are banned in civilized societies. The use of pellet-firing shotguns has created a generation of the blind. Following the unrest in 2016, the scale of injury was terrifying.

• The OHCHR 2019 update cited hospital data stating that 1,253 people were blinded by pellets between 2016 and 2018.
• Official figures for a single window (July 2016 – Feb 2017) showed 6,221 pellet injuries, including 2,449 eye injuries.
• Total injuries during that period reached 9,042.

This is a deliberate attempt to handicap the youth so they can never protest for their freedom again.

The War on Truth: Silencing Journalists and Activists

India is terrified of the truth. To hide these crimes, the occupation authorities have arrested every prominent journalist. The case of Irfan Mehraj, detained since 20 March 2023, shows the level of desperation. Aasif Sultan was kept in jail for over 5 years and was re-arrested just days after his release. Journalists like Fahad Shah, Sajad Gul, and Majid Hyderi have all faced the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) or UAPA. The PSA allows the state to keep anyone in jail for 2 years without any trial. This is not a democracy; it is a fascist regime that punishes speech.

The Scandal of Impunity and Missing Persons

The Indian soldiers enjoy total protection under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). This law gives them a license to kill on suspicion. According to the OHCHR, there has not been a single prosecution of armed forces personnel in a civilian court in over 30 years.

This total impunity has led to the disappearance of over 8,000 Kashmiris who were picked up by the forces and never returned. While families wait, the Indian government only admits to 4,008 missing persons, falsely claiming they went across the border. Even India’s own Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) admits in its 2020-2021 report that 14,091 civilians and 5,356 security personnel have been killed since the 1990s, though the KMS data proves the civilian toll is much higher.

The Demand for Justice

The people of Pakistan will never abandon IIOJK. The data provided by the KMS is a wake-up call. We cannot talk about global peace while 96,483 people have been slaughtered. The 110,562 destroyed houses and the 108,007 orphans are a burden on the conscience of humanity.

India must be held accountable for the 11,269 rapes and the systematic use of torture. The only solution is the implementation of the UN resolutions and the end of this illegal occupation. The resistance will continue, and the voice of freedom will only grow louder. The sun of independence will surely rise over a free Kashmir, and the occupiers will have to answer for every single drop of blood they have shed.