Children of a war zone

A report compiled by the prestigious Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society gives a poignant account of atrocities of the Indian forces in Kashmir. The report is titled ‘Terrorized: impact of violence on the children of J&K’. It is an “assessment of violence” against the children of the region. The report is supported by data gathered about the killings, arrests, mass violence including sexual violence. It does not, however, count the number of children blinded by pellet guns.

The report inter alia states that over 318 children, between the ages of 10 months to 12 years, have been killed “by the government forces” in the past 15 years (2003-2017). However, “the perpetrators are yet to be booked”. “The youngest victim of violence was 10-month-old Irfan who was killed in 2010 when his mother was trapped in the middle of a clash between the Indian forces and protestors in Dangiwacha, Baramulla.” Twenty-seven children died due to drowning caused either due to the negligence of armed forces in the 2006 Wular Lake tragedy or while being chased by government forces during a protest where victims find no escape and are forced to jump into water bodies. The report highlights the ugly face of India’s democracy and its forces.

Deeba Javed Malik

Rawalpindi