Shadows and echoes

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What recent events in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK) tell us are nothing short of a pattern that urgently needs to be examined. Following the killing of a former soldier, around 500 Kashmiris were jailed to make them collectively answer for it. The result of such arbitrary arrests, routine curfews, communication blackouts and an ever-present military has turned the region into an open prison. These practices are considered as violations of basic human rights by critics, who also fear the practices of terrorising communities, suppressing dissent and eroding the Kashmiri identity are aimed to uproot local traditions and replace them with a homogenised state narrative.

Another apparent case of harassment against Kashmiri Muslims is unraveling, as a second-year MBBS student from Anantnag studying in Karnataka, Hameem, was reportedly ragged by his seniors — forced to sing, dance, and then record an apology video. While this incident highlights the lack of safety for Kashmiri students studying outside their home region, it also points to a broader pattern of communal targeting.

More broadly, such incidents deepen feelings of alienation and insecurity among Kashmiri youth, reinforcing their sense of marginalisation amid ongoing attacks on their cultural and religious identity.

And then there is a documentary that adds another layer to the narrative of human rights violations against Kashmiri women. Directed by Bilal Jan and produced by Rajiv Malhotra, Ocean of Tears is a courageous indictment of systemic sexual violence in the region. It also features testimonies from victims' families and archival evidence of mass rapes in places like Kunan, Poshpora and Shopian.

The crucial fact about the documentary is that it has often been banned by elements supportive of Hindutva just because it exposes state excesses and historical injustices against the victims. This, itself, is a desecration of the freedom of expression, and a withdrawal of justice from those that have suffered.

Recently, the removal by the police of a signboard, installed by local traders advising tourists not to consume alcohol and drugs and to respect the Kashmiri culture, adds to the issue of state intervention. This removal, occurring amid local leaders' efforts to enforce public order in an environment where freedom of expression is often viewed as a threat, suggests that it is not merely about maintaining order but rather a deliberate state intervention in cultural expressions that challenge accepted narratives.

Although the intent may be to preserve local practices, removing such expressions borders on control — if not outright suppression — of grassroots movements striving to foster cultural sensitivity. Ultimately, these incidents serve as a sobering reminder that measures supposedly meant to uphold security and cultural norms can easily become instruments of repression.

Addressing this necessitates a balanced approach, which means that the security burden shouldered by the state be assuaged, but with an understanding of how disproportionate such measures will be to the innocent civilians. For both domestic and international observers, ensuring accountability for human rights violations is essential, not only to uphold fundamental rights but also to advocate for genuine dialogue and resolution over fear and repression.

A sustainable path towards peace and stability in IIOJK can only be charted if these abuses are adequately addressed in transparency and fairness, which conforms to the interests of the Kashmiri people and the principles of international human rights law.