Extrajudicial Killings in IIOJK: A Terrible Pattern of Systematic Violence

Behind the veil of counterinsurgency, a brutal campaign of extrajudicial killings continues to claim innocent lives in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), exposing the Modi regime’s deepening human rights crisis.

Reports of extrajudicial killings and staged encounters continue to emerge from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), painting a disturbing picture of state-sponsored violence against the Kashmiri population.

In the most recent incident, Indian troops killed three young Kashmiris during a so-called cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Tral area of Pulwama district. This operation is part of a broader and disturbing trend under the Modi regime, which is systematically targeting Kashmiri youth through extrajudicial means.

Since January 1989, Indian forces have martyred over 96,432 people in IIOJK, according to documented records up to April 30, 2025. These deaths are not just collateral in conflict—they represent a deliberate and sustained strategy to crush Kashmiri aspirations for freedom.

Indian armed forces operate under draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA), which grant them sweeping powers and virtual immunity. These laws enable military personnel to detain, torture, and kill with impunity, often under the pretext of maintaining security. This legal shield has fostered a culture of unaccountability, where fake encounters and custodial killings are rarely investigated or punished.

Despite New Delhi’s claims of combating terrorism, the reality on the ground reflects an alarming pattern of abuse, with innocent civilians—particularly youth—being labeled as militants and executed without trial. These staged encounters are followed by official narratives that often go unquestioned in mainstream Indian media.

The Modi government’s heavy-handed approach in Kashmir has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights organizations. However, international accountability remains elusive. The global community must urgently take cognizance of these ongoing extrajudicial killings and press India to end its campaign of violence in the region.

Human rights watchdogs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly called for independent investigations into the use of lethal force by Indian troops in IIOJK. Yet, India continues to block access to international observers and silences dissent within its borders, curbing media freedom and harassing rights activists.

India’s strategy of violence and repression will not succeed in breaking the will and perseverance of the Kashmiri people. Despite decades of military oppression, the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination remains firm. Every act of violence only strengthens the resolve of the people who have suffered immense loss but remain steadfast in their demand for justice and freedom.

The international community must move beyond statements and take concrete steps to hold the Modi regime accountable for gross and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK. Silence in the face of such grave crimes only emboldens the oppressors and prolongs the suffering of an entire population.