Islamabad, July 07 (KMS): The Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFK) in its latest report has said that the civilian population in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is facing horrendous situation under prolonged Indian military occupation.
The LFK released its bi-annual report, titled “Human Rights Situation in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJK): January to June 2023.” The report shed light on the ongoing human rights situation in the occupied territory during the first half of 2023. It presents an in-depth analysis of various human rights issues, including but not limited to, the impact of heightened militarization on civilian populations, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, and the use of excessive force by Indian occupying forces.
As per the LFK report, the first six months of 2023 January-June saw a new trend of state repression and cordon and search operations in the occupied territory. On the ground, the violations of International Human Rights law (IHRL) and International Humanitarian law (IHL) led to appalling human tragedies.
The report said the Indian occupying authorities and the occupying forces stationed in occupied Kashmir have perpetrated a series of ‘Atrocity crimes’ during the first six months of 2023. It said, the Indian occupying forces persisted in their repressive policies and disregard for international law and the principle of the right to self-determination. It said, a total of 113 Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) were reported by the local media which are just a fraction of the total search operations launched by the occupying forces.
The report pointed out that this year so far the armed action of India’s occupying forces against the native population as a result of heightened military presence has resulted in the killing of 31 Kashmiris from January to June 2023.
It said, during these CASOs, vandalism, and destruction of 91 civilian properties were reported. Also, 109 instances of Internet shut down in occupied Kashmir were reported. India’s Infamous investigation agencies National Investigation Agency (NIA) and State Investigation Agency (SIA) attached 124 properties across occupied Kashmir in the last six months.
The report deplored that the International response against the aforementioned ‘Atrocity crimes’ as well as other patterns of egregious violations, some amounting to war crimes and Crimes against humanity perpetrated by Indian occupying forces was inconsistent. The Indian forces have been engaged in highhanded repression, confiscation of civilian properties, land grabbing and demolition of civilian properties, torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and other series of crimes against Kashmiris. Human rights defenders and journalists are bearing the brunt of India’s excessive use of force and repressive policies.
In its bi-annual report, the LFK also condemns India’s attempt to hold the G20 tourism meeting in IOJK, as it was organized to portray a facade of normalcy and aimed at whitewashing the direct abuses perpetrated by Indian occupation forces against the local population. Such summits may appear to be a routine practice; however such events amount to a violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
The report said, India has accelerated its efforts to control every means of dissent and seize properties of native inhabitants, paving the way for outsiders to settle in the region. In the name of “retrieving state land”, the occupation authorities and their auxiliaries seized over 178005.213 acres in Kashmir region and 25159.56 acres in Jammu as alleged “encroached” by the residents who basically owned the said land legally under the Agrarian Reforms Act, JK State Land Vesting of Ownership Act 2001, JK Evacuees of Property Act and other numerous acts and orders passed by the local authorities in favour of landless peasants.
The LFK said, in the first six months of 2023, the National Investigative Agency continued its crackdown on Kashmiris, arresting thousands including resistance activists, common people, journalists, religious scholars, and academicians. The NIA & SIA have attached 124 properties across occupied Kashmir in the last six months. According to a statement issued by the occupation authorities, nearly, 77 of these properties belong to Jamaat-e-Islami.
The report maintained that the NIA’s pursuit of seeking the death sentence for Muhammad Yasin Malik, the Chairman of Jammu and Liberation Front (JKLF), has raised concerns about justice and fairness. India’s motives, driven by political gain and appeasing a collective conscience, seem to be overshadowing the principles of true justice. With the looming possibility of history repeating itself, as seen with the hangings of Muhammad Maqbool Bhatt and Muhammad Afzal Guru, the plight of Kashmir’s resistance leader hangs in the balance. As political analysts and Kashmiri leaders decry this apparent scapegoating for electoral advantages, it becomes crucial to question the ethical implications and ensure that justice is not compromised in the pursuit of political gain, it added.
The report also documents the ceasefire violations perpetrated by Indian occupation forces against civilians near the Line of Control. The recommitment to the 2003 ceasefire in 2021 was dusted by India on 23 November 2022, when the Northern Army command Lt General Upendra Dwivedi threatened to attack Azad Jammu and Kashmir and invade it through military action. The Indian occupation forces have thrice violated the ceasefire agreement in the first six months of 2023, it said.
