Srinagar: In a powerful new exploration of gender violence in conflict zones, five Kashmiri women scholars have authored “Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora?”, a book that delves into the harrowing night of mass rape in 1991 by Indian forces in the villages of Kunan and Poshpora, located in the Kupwara district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the book is a critical examination of the events that took place on the night of February 23, 1991, when personnel from the Indian army’s 4 Rajputana Rifles regiment are reported to have assaulted around 100 women. Edited by Essar Batool and part of the Zubaan Series on “Sexual Violence and Impunity in South Asia,” the book, first published in 2015, is now available in paperback.

The narrative constructed by the authors not only recounts the incident but also the subsequent decades of denial, botched investigations, and the community’s fight for justice. Through interviews with survivors, local officials, and eyewitnesses, the authors have meticulously documented the systemic obstruction of justice and the continued impact of that night on the survivors and their families.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, highlighted the broader context of sexual violence by Indian forces in the region, stating, “the Indian Army has gang-raped over 10,000 women, even brides on their way to their new homes since 1991.” He expressed hope that international bodies like the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women would respond to these violations.

This book not only sheds light on a specific event but also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that women face in conflict zones worldwide. It questions the efficacy of international human rights mechanisms in holding state actors accountable for such crimes.

“Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora?” stands as a testament to the resilience of the survivors and the unyielding quest for justice, even as the authors lament the international community’s inadequate response to state-sponsored sexual violence.