Major events in IIOJK 2024: 101 Kashmiris martyred amid unabated atrocities
#KashmirBloodshed2024
Srinagar: Indian troops continued their relentless state terrorism and extrajudicial killings throughout 2024, martyring 101 innocent Kashmiris, including three young boys, in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, 50 of these martyrs were killed in fake encounters or in custody.
The report further reveals that six non-Muslim were killed by Indian occupation forces; one by the Border Security Force (BSF) in firing and five in police custody, and a woman was killed by Indian army’s mortar fire in Jammu, Reasi and Samba districts respectively.
These killings, the report said, rendered 8 women widowed and 24 children orphaned. Additionally, two women were sexually assaulted by Indian troops. The report also documents the destruction of 12 residential houses and structures by Indian forces. The report furher noted that 67 people were injured due to the use of brute force on protesters in 2024.
Mass arrests and crackdowns
Moreover, 3,492 people, including Hurriyat leaders, human rights activists, students, lawyers and women, were arrested in house raids and crackdowns. Some of them are Hurriyet leader Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Dr Hameed Fayaz, Firdous Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Amin Rather, former Kashmir Bar president Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, Advocate Nazir Ahmed Roonga, Adv Muhammad Ashraf Butt and Adv Muzaffar Qayoom. Many of these detainees were held under draconian laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) during the year.
Political detentions in Tihar jailThe report further highlights that over 5,000 people, including APHC chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Syeda Aasiya Andrabi, Naheeda Nasreen, Fehmeeda Sofi, Ayaz Muhammad Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Raja Merajuddin Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Syed Shahid Yousuf, Syed Shakeel Yousuf, human rights defender Khurram Parvaiz and journalist Irfan Majeed, continue to be held in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail under false charges.
Other political prisoners, including Hurriyet leaders, Bilal Siddiqi, Maulvi Bashir Ahmed, Muhammad Yousuf Falahi, Muhammad Rafiq Ganai, Ameer Hamza, Abdul Ahad Parra, Zaffar Akbar Butt ,Fayaz Hussain Jaferi, Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Ghulam Qadir Butt, Dr Shafi Shariyati, Showkat Hakeem, Assadullah Parrey, Merajuddin Nanda, Hayat Ahmad Butt, Umar Adil Dar, Zahoor Ahmed Butt, Noor Muhammad Fayaz, Adil Siraj Zargar, Dawood Zargar, Saleem Nanaji, Muhammad Yasin Butt, journalist Majid Hyderi, remain in different jails of IIOJK and India under the black laws, PSA and UAPA.
Restrictions on religious gatherings
The Kashmiris have also faced ongoing restrictions on religious gatherings, with occupation authorities preventing prayers on significant occasions like Jumat-ul-Wida, Shab-e-Qadar, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and other daily prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid and Eid Gah.
Killings, other atrocities in Dec 2024
In December 2024 alone, the report said, six Kashmiris were martyred in fake encounters, and 66 others were arrested during the month.
955 Kashmiris martyred post Article 370 revocation
Since the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, Kashmir has remained under a military siege, with Indian forces having martyred 955 Kashmiris in the territory.
96,388 Kashmiris martyred in the past 36 years
Over the past 36 years, the report said, 96,388 Kashmiris have fallen to Indian bullets in IIOJK.
Economic oppression and proper seizures
The report also highlights the BJP-led Indian government’s continued economic oppression of Kashmiris, with the seizure of over 183 properties—including agricultural land, houses, shops, and offices—an attempt to undermine Kashmir’s economy and punish its people for supporting the ongoing struggle for self-determination.
Termination of Muslim govt employees
Furthermore, the report mentions the systemic termination of Muslim government employees in IIOJK, with at least 51 individuals dismissed in 2024 due to their political views or support for the UN-based resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
High unemployment rate
Additionally, the economic situation in Kashmir remains dire, with a 32% unemployment rate among jobseekers aged 15-29 in urban areas, according to the latest quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The unemployment crisis is exacerbated by recruitment scams and rising unemployment, particularly among young women, with an unemployment rate of 48.6%, affecting around 25 lakh youth.
Ongoing harassmentThe report emphasizes the ongoing harassment and atrocities faced by Kashmiris during so-called cordon-and-search operations conducted by Indian military, paramilitary, and police forces, as well as raids by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and State Investigation Agency (SIA).
Powerlessness of local govt
The report further highlights the newly released 2025 holiday list, which again exposes the powerlessness of the National Conference-led government in IIOJK. Despite promises to restore key holidays, including July 13 Martyrs’ Day, their exclusion reveals the inability of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government to exercise any real authority. The omission of Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary further emphasizes the diminished political influence of the Abdullah family. This exclusion underscores the dominance of the New Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor led administration’s control over IIOJK.
Suicides among Indian forces’ personnel
Finally, the report states that in 2024, as many as 25 personnel from Indian forces’ personnel, including those from the army, paramilitary, police, and Village Defence Guards, committed suicide in IIOJK. Since January 2007, a total of 614 occupation troops have taken their lives in the occupied territory. The increasing tendency towards suicide is attributed to the realization of fighting a futile war against a hostile population, along with the constant fear of attacks by freedom fighters. Additionally, factors such as low morale, stress, and mental health issues are cited as contributing to the growing suicide rates among Indian forces deployed in IIOJK.