Indian forces martyr 1069 Kashmiris since August 2019 in IIOJK
Srinagar: Indian forces, in their unabated acts of state terrorism, have martyred 1069 Kashmiris in the last seven years since the illegal abrogation of constitutional rights in August 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to data issued today by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, the Indian Army, Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Operations Group (SOG), and notorious agencies, including Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and State Investigation Agency (SIA), arrested 37,783 civilians, including leaders, Ulemas, youth, students, journalists, human rights defenders, political activists, and women during 25,649 cordon and search operations (CASOs) and house raids. Many of the detainees were booked under draconian laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The data further revealed that at least 2,708 people were injured after Indian police and paramilitary forces used brute force, teargas shells, bullets, and pellets against peaceful and unarmed Kashmiris during the period.
On the other hand, Indian forces have martyred twenty-one Kashmiris in the last eight months of this year in the territory. During the period, the Indian forces and agencies arrested over 4,704 people, including APHC leaders, youth, students, activists, and women. Many of them were booked under draconian laws, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Public Safety Act (PSA), during 1,747 cordon and search operations and house raids.
Additionally, intensifying its colonial-style suppression, the highly communal and corrupt administration led by New Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, under the direct control of the Indian Home Minister, seized 273 properties, including houses, lands, shops, institutions, and vehicles belonging to activists and businessmen in IIOJK.
These illegal confiscations are part of the BJP-led Indian government’s strategy to economically strangle Kashmiris and suppress their political stance and freedom aspirations. Kashmir watchers and political analysts said the illegal confiscation and demolition of properties formed part of the BJP-led Indian government’s strategy to economically weaken Kashmiris, punish political dissent, and suppress the ongoing freedom movement in the occupied territory.
Meanwhile, thousands of Kashmiris, including Hurriyat leaders, activists, youth, students, journalists, and dozens of women, continue to languish in prisons across India and IIOJK. Prominent detainees include APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Naheeda Nasreen, Fehmeeda Sofi, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Merajudin Kalwal, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Advocate Shahidul Islam, Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, Dr. Hameed Fayaz, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Bilal Siddiqi, Molvi Bashir Usmani, Fayaz Hussain Jaferi, Zaffar Akbar Butt, Advocate Zahid Ali, Dr. Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Dr. Muhammad Shafi Shariati, Rafiq Ahmad Ganai, Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Farooq Ahmed Tawheedi, Omar Adil Dar, Saleem Nanaji, Muhammad Yasin Butt, Insha Jan, and others.
These political detainees continue to face prolonged incarceration under politically motivated cases for supporting the Kashmiris’ internationally recognized right to self-determination. These detainees are the worst victims of the political vendetta of the Bharatiya Janata Party regime and are being victimized for their affiliation with the true demand for political justice in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
