- Indian Journal of Research and Practice

Asia Pacific Journal of Research
Vol: I. Issue XXXV, January 2016
ISSN: 2320-5504, E-ISSN-2347-4793
VIOLENCE’S AGAINST THE UNARMED PROTESTORS IN KASHMIR:
A DISGUISED BRUTALITY
Bilal Ahmad Shah1, Dr. P. Chinnathurai2
1
Ph. D Research Scholars, Department of Political Science and Public Administration,
Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar ,Tamil Nadu
2
Associate Professor, P. Chinnathurai, Department of Political Science and Public Administration,
Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar ,Tamil Nadu
ABSTRACT
The summers of Kashmir views the human encroachments, infractions, infusions, violations,
humiliations and witness the brutalities done by the government forces and though government officials
ruthlessly and allegedly. All the government officials and blazons have blazed up and are responsible for
turning the colorless spring’s water into red sea with the blood of youth flown and drawn through the hands
of blazons in the whole valley of Kashmir. Why? Because every victimized father, mar mother, torment
brother, lament sister, thunderstruck widow and starved orphan were demanding justice for their near and
dear ones. Because of injustice this wave changed into heartedness and has bystander the hundreds of civilian
lives mostly the youth in the valley.
This study puts forth all the occurrences and happenstances that took place in whole valley, created
chaos and confusion done by the insane minded rulers and their living robots against the unarmed protestors
in the blessed valley, this study is a limelight on the killings of civilians and also the rise of human rights
violations during the phase of 2008-July2013,
Key words: - Jammu and Kashmir, violations, civilians and forces.
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Asia Pacific Journal of Research
Vol: I. Issue XXXV, January 2016
ISSN: 2320-5504, E-ISSN-2347-4793
Introduction
In Kashmir, there is one soldier for every twenty citizens. There are over 5,00,000 equipped troops,
3,00,000 army men, 70,000 Rashtriya Rifle soldiers, 1,30,000 central police forces as against the total
inhabitants of 1 crore. In the past 20 years, a cohort of Kashmiris has grown with militia at every street corner
‘often even in their breathing quarters’. The grievance of the people is that instead of confining the role of the
military and security forces to that of external defence and as against freedom fighters, it is regularly and
endlessly used for domestic repression.
This excessive deputation forces has resulted in wiping out all breathing space for the exercise of
democratic rights by the people, the result being hounding of the people at large. This has resulted in
merciless action on all dissent, and at the same time the armed forces indulges in acts of violence against
people with impunity.
Arms uprisings in Jammu and Kashmir have brought wreck to the human dignity. People feel unstable,
terrified and aggravated. They are killed either by militants or by security agencies. The passing of some
draconian laws like POTA, TADA, and AFSPA have given a kind of killing authorization to the forces. To
human rights groups, it is such provision that allow security forces to toil with virtual impunity.
Dissent and peaceful protest is the quintessence of democracy, but in Kashmir such is the height of
growing fanaticism that nonviolent protests are labeled as ‘agitational terrorism’.
METHODOLOGY
Survey method has been adopted for this study. The data from the samples were collected regarding the
Human Rights crises in the villages of the Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir State. There are five
Tehsils in the Anantnag District where five villages have been identified (Five villages from the Tehsils). In
each village respondents were selected as per the proportion of the population. The total numbers of the
samples selected randomly were 200.
This study also have been covered from the data’s of Journals, Articles, news papers, Published and
Unpublished dissertations, government reports and human rights agencies reports (2008-July2013) mostly
about the amaranth land issue and Kashmir unrest. This study aims to highlight the brutalities done by the
Indian security forces, Jammu and Kashmir police in response with state and central government of India and
gather information about the killings of civilians and the facts on which public was having the anger towards
the forces and government.
Evaluation of Facts, Killings during the Year’s 2008- July 2013 in Kashmir valley
In the summer of 2008, a dispute over land being allotted to the Amaranth Shrine Board coalesced into
a massive, non-violent uprising. Day after day, hundreds of thousands of populace defied militia and
policemen – who fired straight into the public gatherings, killed more than 60 unarmed protestors and
thronged the streets.
A similar unpleasant incident was witnessed on account of a Shopian rape and murder case wherein
two women Neelofar Jan (22) and Asiya (17) were alleged abducted, gang raped and murdered in mysterious
circumstances on the intervening night of May 29 and 30, 2009 at Bongam, Shopian left district by the CRPF.
The incident also resulted in losing life of dozens of innocent people who came on to streets for seeking
justice which was denied. In both the incidents of 2008 and 2009, the demand for justice, self-determination
and removal of the Indian forces and voice against human rights violation intensified but both the times it was
denied. In year 2009 total numbers of killings were 377 out of which 55 were civilians.
Interestingly, in 2010, the demand again intensified in form of ‘Quit Kashmir Movement’(Kashmir
Unrest) when on June 11 one student Tufail Ahmad Mattoo (17) was killed by the security personnel which
upto August 31 has taken the lives of more than 65 innocent persons ranging from the age of 8 to 65 years.
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Asia Pacific Journal of Research
Vol: I. Issue XXXV, January 2016
ISSN: 2320-5504, E-ISSN-2347-4793
In 2010, total 112 civilians were killed when security forces fired at civilian protests in different places
across Kashmir valley and lone place in the Poonch district of the Jammu province. While the origins of the
unrest may be traced to recent events, the lack of political resolution of the Kashmir issue has contributed to
the protests. The resolution of Kashmir issue often lies at the heart of the demands of these protestors.
The year 2011 has just passed, and many have declared this year, a peaceful year in Jammu and
Kashmir. Of course assertions of peace by various quarters are relative. Enforced silence cannot be construed
as peace. Despite then publicity of peace, people have witnessed unabated cruelty, human rights abuses,
rebuff of civil and political rights, and nonappearance of mechanism of justice, heightened militarization and
surveillance. The stature of violent incidents suggests that 2011 as usual has been the year of loss, illtreatment, sorrow and soreness for the people.
In 2011, a total of 233 people have been lost their lives due to vicious incidents in Jammu and
Kashmir. Out of 233 persons, 56 were civilians, 100 were alleged militants, 71 were armed forces personals
and 6 were undisclosed persons and counterinsurgents renegades. Out of the total 56 civilians killed this year,
11 were students, amongst whom 7 were minors. Also in the midst of the civilians killed 6 were women.
The year 2012 yet again like previous years, the government of Jammu and Kashmir had claimed the
year to be peaceful. This hyped peace was void of justice & peace and was packed with violence & injustice.
In the year 2012 the people of Jammu and Kashmir in routine had witnessed unabated violence, human rights
abuses, denial of civil, political rights and absence of mechanisms of justice and heightened militarization and
surveillance. The figures of violent incidents suggest that 2012 as usual had been the year of loss,
victimization, lies, mourning and pain for the people. In 2012, a total of 148 people had lost their lives due to
violent incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Out of 148 persons, 35 were civilians, 75 were alleged freedom
fighters, 36 armed forces personnel, 1 was an unknown person and 1 a retired police officer. Out of the total
35 civilians killed that year, 6 were children and 9 were women, amongst whom 4 were tourists.
Accordingly in the months of year 2013 upto July brutalities has been done usually and in these
months total killings 36, custodial killings were 3, tortured/critically injured 474, civilians arrested 290 and
women gang raped 5.
Below table and figure shows the number of civilians killed during the years:
Total civilian Total civilian Total
killings
in killings in 2009 civilian
2008
killings
2010
60
55
112
Table 1.1
Total civilian Total civilian Total civilian
killings
in killings
in killings
in
in 2011
2012
2013
upto
July
56
35
36
Computed: tabulation of civilians killed during 2008-July2013
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Asia Pacific Journal of Research
Vol: I. Issue XXXV, January 2016
ISSN: 2320-5504, E-ISSN-2347-4793
112
Civilians Killed
120
100
80
60
60
56
55
35
40
36
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
20
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Years
Figure 1.1
No thorough investigation has been done on how the people were killed. Claims of how many people
died over the last five and half years. This huge loss of life in a state with a population of less than 11 million,
especially since the casualties have been primarily from the Kashmir Valley which hosts just over half of that
population, has had a deep psychological impact on Kashmiri society. The misgovernence has led to a sense
of helplessness, but little hard data to verify those claims. There has been only a very limited drawdown of
Indian military and paramilitary deployment. In these years the forms of protest have changed shape
drastically. The stone has replaced the gun. The past three years – 2008, 2009 and 2010 – have seen the
biggest people’s demonstrations in Kashmir.
Analysis of Data
Who among the fallowing is responsible for human rights crises in Kashmir valley from 2008-2013?
A)Pakistan and separatists
B) Central Reserve Police Force and J&K Police
C) Government of
J&K Government of India
D) Both B and C
Table 1.2
Variables
A
B
C
D
Total
Gender
Male
11.00
19.00
14.00
64
108
Female
6.00
11.00
3.00
72.00
92
Age
Below 30
20.00
9.00
16.00
75.00
100
Above 30
7.00
13.00
17.00
63.00
100
Religion
Muslim
3.00
14.00
19.00
84.00
120
Hindu
15.00
5.00
2.00
24.00
46
Sikh
2.00
2.00
5.00
11.00
20
Others
3.00
1.00
3.00
7.00
14
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Asia Pacific Journal of Research
Vol: I. Issue XXXV, January 2016
ISSN: 2320-5504, E-ISSN-2347-4793
A
B
C
D
Total
N0. of Individuals
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Male
Female Below 30 Above 30 Muslim
Gender
Age
Hindu
Sikh
Others
Religion
Variables
Figure 1.2
Results and discussions
You have no right to say, what angers the Kashmiris? Because: Overpowering attendance of armed forces in the Valley.
 Governing of Kashmir as although it is an occupied region.
 Firing at democratic protestors and other human rights violations.
 Killings of innocents and their being pigeonholed as militants.
 No lodging of FIRs against the troops who are in connection with killings of innocent youth.
 Treating Kashmiris as militants in every corner of the country and other side shouting in assemblies
‘Kashmir is the integral part of India’.
CONCLUSION
The scale of the popular backing for the resistance in Kashmir can be judged from the established fact
that virtually all the citizenry of Srinagar (Capital city of Kashmir) - men, women and children - came out
dozens of times on the streets to lodge a non-violent protest against the continuance of Indian occupation. At
times the number of people in these peaceful processions exceeded 1 million. Forces had tried to portray the
uprising as the work of terrorists or fanatics. Terrorists do not compose an entire population, including women
and children.
This popular and non violent resistance is a living proof that the people of Kashmir will not
compromise, far less abandon, their demand for self-determination which is their birthright and for which they
have paid a price in blood and suffering which has not been exacted from any other people of the South Asian
subcontinent. Compared to the sacrifice Kashmir has had to endure, India and Pakistan themselves gained
their freedom through a highly civilized process.
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Asia Pacific Journal of Research
Vol: I. Issue XXXV, January 2016
ISSN: 2320-5504, E-ISSN-2347-4793
This mimicry mostly covers the killings of civilians in the Kashmir valley; study further tries to
analyze the level of human rights violations taken place in these years. The years of Amarnath land issue
(2008) and Kashmir Unrest (2010) have shown the height of brutalities faced by the civilians. Kashmir which
was once known as the paradise on earth has now changed into hell for the civilians residing there. Public
have lost faith over the security forces, because of security forces existence they now feel insecure.
FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS
The findings reveal some very startling and insightful details, the lessons of which can become pointers
to, and a basis for, alternate practices and arrangements. These can, in the short term, avoid such huge loss of
life and, in the longer term, address the context and root of the protest as it were, in an effort to engage with it
substantively and constructively. Some of the immediate pointers that emerge in the course of the study are;
 Alarming brutalities has been done during these years mostly the years of Kashmir unrest 2010, of
those that died were from relatively civilian class and students formed a critical portion of this with
high percent of those having died being students. These kinds of brutalities should be curbed in order
to gain the faith among the public and should be solved kind of matters peace fully.
 Instead of giving the public justice they have been kept mum by the force, there speech has been
buried by the excessive use of arms. The public should be given justice and those who are involved in
injustice should be punished.
 The unarmed protests have been curbed by the arms, which is against the laws of constitution and
international laws and we should follow the laws of our constitution and the international laws which
are liable to everyone.
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Vol: I. Issue XXXV, January 2016
ISSN: 2320-5504, E-ISSN-2347-4793
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