907 Kashmiris Martyred since August 5 2019, in IIOJK: A Human Rights Catastrophe

Today marks August 5, when India’s BJP government revoked the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the region has witnessed a more alarming escalation in human rights violations since then. The military siege has resulted in a surge of killings, arbitrary arrests, and destruction, painting a grim picture of life in the valley.

In the past five years, Indian forces have martyred 907 Kashmiris, including women and young boys. Among these victims were senior Hurriyat leaders, who died in fake encounters or in police custody. The brutality extended beyond killings, with over 2,459 people critically injured by bullets, pellets, and teargas.

According to reports a disturbing trend of fake encounters and unlawful detentions. Many young men were arrested from their homes, falsely labeled as militants, and then killed. Under draconian laws like the Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, countless Kashmiris have been unjustly imprisoned, with no recourse to justice.

The impact of these violations is devastating. Since 2019, 69 women have been widowed and 190 children orphaned. Additionally, over 1,124 homes have been damaged, and 134 women molested during brutal search operations. The reports underscore how the revocation of Kashmir’s special status has plunged its residents into a state of economic, political, and social misery.

Kashmir has been turned into an open-air prison. Thousands of leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens have been arrested and remain in jails across India and occupied Kashmir. Notable among the detained are APHC chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt and other prominent figures who continue to languish behind bars without trial.

The repression extends to the press, with journalists being harassed and detained under the new media policy introduced by the BJP regime in 2020. This policy has severely curtailed the flow of information, further isolating the Kashmiri population from the world.

The reports highlight India’s use of brutal tactics to achieve its objectives in Kashmir. The BJP government has granted domicile certificates to thousands of non-Kashmiri migrants, aiming to alter the region’s Muslim-majority status. Properties of pro-freedom leaders are being confiscated, and constituencies are being redrawn to favor Hindu representation.

Despite these brutalities, the Kashmiri people remain resolute in their fight for justice. The reports call on the international community to hold India accountable for its crimes and to support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The world must act before it is too late, as the human rights situation in Kashmir continues to deteriorate.