Indian Army’s Brutal Torture Campaign in Kishtwar: Innocent Civilians Bear the Brunt

Recent reports reveal yet another horrifying chapter of third-degree torture inflicted on four innocent daily wagers in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The Indian Army’s oppressive tactics in Kishtwar District have escalated to new heights of brutality, leaving innocent civilians scarred, both physically and emotionally. Recent reports reveal yet another horrifying chapter of third-degree torture inflicted on four innocent daily wagers.

On November 21, 2024, Sajad Ahmad, Abdul Kabir, Mushtaq Ahmad, and Mehraj-ud-Din—all residents of Kuath village and hardworking laborers—were summoned to the 11 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) camp in Chas under the pretense of an investigation. Allegedly linked to the recent killings of Village Defence Guards (VDGs), these men were mercilessly tortured despite a lack of evidence connecting them to the incident.

The victims endured unimaginable brutality, only to be released later in a severely injured state. Their ordeal didn’t end there; when their families attempted to evacuate them to a hospital, the Indian Army intercepted them at Bhanderkot and forcibly took them back to the camp, in an apparent attempt to suppress the incident.

This inhumane treatment is part of a broader “anti-terror operation” initiated on November 20, 2024, following the killing of VDGs. Far from targeting any legitimate threats, the operation has devolved into an excuse for the occupational forces to unleash terror upon the general population of Kishtwar. Innocent civilians are being harassed, manhandled, and subjected to severe torture under the guise of maintaining security.

The so-called investigation and subsequent torture of these daily wagers reveal the Indian Army’s blatant disregard for human rights. Instead of seeking justice, they have resorted to punishing the powerless, using fear and violence as tools of control. This pattern of abuse is emblematic of a larger strategy employed by occupational forces across Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The plight of these innocent men highlights the structural impunity granted to Indian forces under draconian laws. These laws enable unchecked violence, shield perpetrators from accountability, and foster an environment where civilians are treated as expendable pawns in a broader political agenda.

The international community must not turn a blind eye to these atrocities. The ongoing reign of terror in Kishtwar demands immediate attention and intervention. The torture and harassment of innocent civilians under the guise of counterterrorism operations expose the Indian Army’s true agenda: to silence dissent and suppress the region’s people through fear and violence.

These actions are not isolated incidents; they are part of a systematic campaign to crush the spirit of the Kashmiri people. Justice for the victims of Kishtwar is overdue, and accountability for the Indian Army’s heinous crimes is imperative. Silence is complicity, and the world must act.