HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN KASHMIR by WAJIHA BUTT
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN KASHMIR
by
WAJIHA BUTT
Women all around the world are the worst victims of human rights violations and Kashmiri women of Indian held kashmir are on the top of the list demanding their human rights.India has a long history of human rights violations against minorities living in the country specially against poor and weak women from minority communities.Although violence against the other communities has been used by Hindu fundamentalists as a normal practice since partition, yet anti-Christian and anti-Muslim bloodshed in the last decade coupled with the dissemination of Hindutva has intensified.Influenced by Hidutava organisations, Indian security forces are responsible for the greatest number of human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.
Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan.The Muslim majority population is severely suffering from anti humanity activities done by the Indian security forces.Torture is a common practisce, particularly in the temporary detention centres; methods of torture include electric shocks, prolonged beatings and sexual molestation of innocent women.Since the Indian government crackdown against Kashmiris in the disputed territory of Kashmir began in earnest in January 1990, security forces and Indian army have used rape as a weapon: to punish, intimidate, coerce, humiliate and degrade. Rape by Indian security forces most often occurs during crackdowns, cordon-and-search operations during which men are held for identification in parks or schoolyards while security forces search their homes.According to a United Nations publication from 1990 to 1996, 882 women were reportedly gang-raped by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.In the last thirteen years the figure is almost doubled.According to a report issued by Human Rights Kashmir, the total number of women gang raped and molested since Jan 1989 to April 2007 are nine thousand, seven hundred and eight which clearly indicates the vulnerable condition of innocent kashmiri women in the valley.May 30th was another black day this year when the bodies of Neelofar and Aasia were foud in a stream in Shopian.They were brutally killed after rape by the indian security forces.Kashmiri people strongly protested against the double murder and rape case and forced the government to investigate the matter. The CBI in its investigation report has said that cause of death of two Shopian girls was drowning.The whole Kashmir has rejected the report describing it an attempt to hide facts.
Again the Indian government is failed to provide justice.The International NGO's Amnesty International, Human rights watch, Asia watch, Red Cross, Medicine sans frontier and others are not allowed to visit Indian occupied Kashmir which is a proof of human rights violations in the occupied valley.Kashmir is rising flame, which is increasing speedily.The indian government has failed to stop human rights violations in Kashmir and it is the responsibility of civilised world to stop these inhuman activities.