Srinagar, Hurriyat leaders and organizations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have reiterated their call for an independent investigation into the Kunan-Poshpora mass rape incident, lamenting that justice remains elusive for the victims even after more than three decades. The incident, involving the gang rape of approximately 100 women by Indian troops during a siege and search operation on February 23, 1991, has been described as a deliberate act to intimidate the Kashmiri population.
According to Kashmir Media Service, on the anniversary of the tragedy, figures such as Molvi Bashir Ahmad Irfani, Yasin Attai, Yasmeen Raja, Fahreeda Behanji, Gulam Nabi War, leaders from the Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Front, and Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen, among others, issued statements condemning the atrocity. They characterized the incident as a calculated effort by Indian authorities to deter Kashmiri women from participating in the freedom struggle.
The statements paid tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of Kashmiri women in the face of brutalities inflicted by Indian forces, including killings, torture, imprisonment, and rape, used as a weapon to force the Kashmiri population into submission. The leaders highlighted that the Kunan-Poshpora incident stands as a significant stain on the facade of Indian democracy, showcasing the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war against the Kashmiris.
The Hurriyat leaders and organizations emphasized the ongoing suffering of the victims and the shameless attempts by Indian officials to obscure the facts and protect the perpetrators. They argued that the absence of justice for the Kunan-Poshpora victims exemplifies the broader use of power, harassment, and sexual abuse by the Indian army as part of its strategy to quell the Kashmiris’ rightful demand for self-determination.
The call for an independent investigation into the Kunan-Poshpora mass rape incident underscores the demand for accountability and justice for one of the most heinous crimes in the region’s history, a crime that, As per the leaders, has yet to find its rightful place in human history due to the continued denial of justice to its victims.