In Loving Memory of Young Kashmiri Martyr

Burhan Wani, Shaheed

A Hero

Another Kashmiri Leader Martyred

By Sajjad Shaukat

Protests erupted after Indian security forces martyred 22-year- yound Kashmir leader Burhan

Wani on July 8, 2016. A new wave of Indian brutalities has set in with the martyr of an eminent

leader.

Despite a curfew in the Indian-held Kashmir and brutal tactics of Indian police and other security

forces, demonstrations have continued. To suppress the protestors, devilish Indian Occupational

Forces started playing havoc with the protestors resulting into martyring of more than 50

innocent and armless Kashmiris so far. The bloodshed is still on and God knows how many more

Kashmiris will lose their lives at the hands of Indian forces.

The recent genocide in the Indian-controlled Kashmir has received wide coverage in

International as well domestic Indian media.

Wani, in his early 20s, had become the face of the struggle in Kashmir and over the last five

years was using social media like Facebook to reach out to young Kashmiri men to continue their

movement for the independence of Kashmir. He became voice of the Kashmiri youth and his

popularity irritated New Delhi.

Undoubtedly, Burhan Wani was a great voice for freedom of the Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Hence, the planned killing of Burhan Wani triggered protest throughout the valley.

The terrible and heinous massacre of Muslim populace of the Indian-occupied Kashmir is

continuing since seven decades without any break. The catastrophe is big enough to move any

conscious human being. Unfortunately, the callous insensitivity of international community is

encouraging India to cross all limits of gross human rights violations. It is not that international

community is unaware of atrocities, being unleashed on people of Indian-held Kashmir—it is

rather the vested interest of Western governments to remain mute just to please India.

Instead of accepting the existing reality, New Delhi resorts to implicating Pakistan for Kashmiri

uprising. Indian allegations against Pakistan are ploy to hoodwink the International Community

on Kashmir issue and a blanket to hide state sponsored atrocities on innocent people of Kashmir.

International community must realize the plight of the Indian-occupied Kashmir and their

people. Kashmir has been under unlawful Indian occupation since October 1947. The people of

Jammu and Kashmir have been granted the right of self-determination under the UN Charter, and

under several UN Security Council resolutions, more specifically under UN (UNCIP) resolution

of August 13, 1948, and January 5, 1949. These along with subsequent UN resolutions have

affirmed that the question of accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan

will be decided through the political democratic method of free and impartial plebiscite.

Unfortunately, stalwart supporter of Human equality and advocates of preservation of human

rights have done little to resolve decades long Kashmir dispute. It is sad to admit that death of

few animals aired by international media can bring tears in the eyes of people, but no heart

moves on genocide of innocent Kashmiris. These double standards are drag to international

efforts on global peace.

In this regard, Leonardo Boff has rightly said, “The eternal destiny of human beings will be

measured by how much or how little solidarity we have displayed with the hungry, the thirsty,

the naked and the oppressed. In the end, we will be judged in terms of love.”

However, a peaceful, negotiated settlement of Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN

resolutions should rank top on UN’s agenda. In order to find a swift and legal solution of

Kashmir issue, international community must stand with people of the Indian-held Kashmir.

New Delhi should also realize that no freedom movement has ever been suppressed with force

and Kashmir is no exception.

Balochistan is showing solidarity with Kashmiris on 14 th July. Huge rallies in all parts of

Balochistan are being planned to demonstrate unity with Kashmiris against crimes committed by

India in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. Youth including universities, colleges and schools would

be mobilized with civil society. Local leaders will address the rallies to give a clear message of

support to the Kashmiris.

Nevertheless, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the

Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has

been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted

killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation

of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

In fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian and controversial laws like Armed Forces

Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA) etc. in killing the Kashmiri

people, and arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out

grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim

majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security

forces. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and

Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act, security forces personnel have

extraordinary powers to shoot suspected persons.”

It is mentionable that under the cover of draconian laws, most of the times, majority of the

popular pro-movement leadership is detained or house-arrested by the Indian security forces, and

mostly, without prior orders from the higher authorities. As per a Kashmiri human rights group,

Voice of Victim (VOV), a total of 1 471 torture centers are operating in the Indian-occupied

Kashmir where arrested Kashmiri leaders and the youth are subjected to severe torture.

Nonetheless, martyrdom of the Kashmir leader Burhan Wani has given a new impetus to the

Kashmiris to continue their struggle against the occupying forces of India.

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