IIOJK's 75-year dark night lengthens shadows

Since August 2019, 887 people have been killed, and nearly 25,000 arrested without due process

ISLAMABAD:

As Pakistan observes Youm-e-Istehsal (Exploitation Day) on Monday (today), to mark the fifth anniversary of India revoking Kashmir's special autonomy and to show solidarity with Kashmiris, the region's dark night of suffering continues unabated.

For 75 years, the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have faced relentless oppression and illegal occupation by Indian forces. The situation took a nosedive on August 5, 2019, when the Indian government revoked Kashmir's special status, an act fiercely rejected by the local population.

Since 1989, the conflict has claimed the lives of 96,320 civilians. Over 171,000 Kashmiris have been unlawfully detained by Indian authorities.

The brutality extends to the families, with 22,974 women losing their husbands to violence, and 11,264 women subjected to sexual assault by Indian military and police personnel.

From August 2019 to the present, 887 more individuals have been killed, and nearly 25,000 arrested without due process. During this period, around 19,000 illegal raids have been conducted, and 1,300 pro-freedom government employees have been wrongfully dismissed from their jobs.

Systematic oppression and displacement

Indian occupying forces have identified 60,000 Kashmiri families for targeted oppression.

A sinister plan to alter the region's demographic makeup is underway, with the illegal registration of 3.2 million non-local voters causing significant concern among the local population. The government's goal is to turn the Muslim majority into a minority, manipulating voter lists to achieve this.

Key leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, are under house arrest and prohibited from leading their communities. The Indian military has illegally seized 60,000 kanals of land, and 200,000 acres of land have been unjustly taken from Kashmiri citizens.

Erosion of freedoms and rights

India's freedom of expression has plummeted, now ranking 161st globally after a 21-place decline. Meanwhile, an illegal temple is being constructed on six acres of land in Jammu, symbolizing the broader agenda of cultural and religious erasure.

Meanwhile, the Indian army and police are distributing weapons to RSS activists and workers under the guise of Village Defense Guards (VDGs). The government is also promoting alcohol sales and establishing drug dens, exacerbating social decay in the region.

The quota for Kashmiris in the Indian Civil Service has been slashed from 50% to 33%, and 16 out of 20 principal secretaries in the region are from the Hindu community.

Rights groups have sounded alarms that the Indian government aims to commit genocide against Muslims through illegal amendments to 890 laws.

Economic development projects in IIOJK have been halted by the Indian government, making employment scarce and plunging the region into a severe economic crisis. Multiple UN reports have repeatedly documented India's human rights violations.

Similarly, human rights organisations and watchdogs across the world have long urged the international community to take decisive action to restrain the rulers of India and end the decades-long suffering of the Kashmiri people.