Islamabad, Over three decades have passed since the horrific Kunanposhpora mass rape incident in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, yet justice remains out of reach for its victims. Despite the years, the atrocities committed during a cordon and search operation by Indian troops in the Kunanposhpora area of Kupwara district on the night of February 23, 1991, have not been forgotten, nor have the perpetrators been held accountable.
According to Kashmir Media Service, on that fateful night, approximately 100 Kashmiri women, ranging from eight to eighty years old, fell victim to gang rape by Indian soldiers. Thirty-three years later, the survivors and the Kashmiri community continue to await justice, with those responsible for this act still at large.
The report highlights a disturbing pattern of violence, stating that since January 1989, Indian troops have raped, gang-raped, and molested 11,263 women in the region. The impunity afforded to these troops by draconian laws is cited as a key factor enabling such tragedies.
The Kunanposhpora mass rape is emblematic of the broader issue of sexual violence employed by Indian forces as a tool of state terrorism in Kashmir, representing a stark violation of human rights and a challenge to India’s democratic facade. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the institutionalized violence and war crimes committed against the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination.
The report calls for international pressure on New Delhi to reopen the Kunanposhpora mass rape case and hold the perpetrators accountable. It emphasizes the need for India to answer for the crimes committed by its troops and for the global community to recognize and address the ongoing human rights abuses in Kashmir.