35 Years of Tragedy for Children in IIOJK

In the past thirty-five years, the Indian forces have engaged in relentless acts of state terrorism and egregious human rights violations, resulting in the martyrdom of 919 children in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). A recent report by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, released on World Children’s Day, sheds light on the dire situation faced by the children in the region, labeling them as the most severe victims of India’s illegal occupation.

The report reveals a grim statistic: among the 96,274 individuals martyred by troops, paramilitary, and police personnel from January 1, 1989, to the present day, 919 are innocent children. The forces’ actions have not only claimed lives but have also left 107,934 children orphaned in the occupied territory, highlighting the devastating impact on families and communities.

Beyond fatalities, the report outlines the injuries inflicted on thousands of people, including schoolboys and girls, by pellets fired during clashes with Indian troops. Shockingly, children as young as 19 months old, like Hiba Jan, and 4-year-old Zuhra Majeed, have suffered from the loss of eyesight, both partially and totally, due to these pellet injuries. The toll on young lives includes 8-year-olds Asif Rashid and Owais Ahmad, 10-year-old Asif Ahmad Sheikh, and 13-year-old Mir Arafat, painting a heartbreaking picture of the consequences of conflict on innocent lives.

Moreover, the report highlights the detention of a significant number of schoolboys among the thousands of Kashmiris arrested since the military and police siege following India’s revocation of the special status of IIOJK in August 2019. These actions not only infringe upon the rights of the Kashmiri children but also disrupt their education and normal childhood experiences.

The psychological trauma inflicted on IIOJK’s children is emphasized in the report, detailing how witnessing the killing of loved ones has left a lasting impact on their physical and mental health. Urging the global community to take notice, the report emphasizes the need for international pressure on the Indian regime and its military and police establishment to fulfill their obligations in promoting and protecting the rights of children in IIOJK.

On World Children’s Day, the report calls for heightened awareness and action, urging conscientious individuals to raise their voices in support of the rights of Kashmiri children. It emphasizes that the global community must not turn a blind eye to the ongoing plight of the children in IIOJK and advocates for collective efforts to address this pressing humanitarian crisis.