Srinagar: On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, a report highlights the continuing crisis in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where thousands of enforced disappearances have been recorded over the past thirty-six years. The region, one of the most militarized in the world, has seen a stark violation of human rights, including the disappearance of at least 8,000 individuals at the hands of Indian military and police forces.
According to Kashmir Media Service, which released the report today, the extensive militarization that began in 1989 has led to severe human rights abuses like torture and extrajudicial killings, with the situation worsening under the influence of Hindutva ideology-driven operations by Indian forces. The report strongly criticizes the impunity enjoyed by the troops under stringent laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act, facilitating widespread atrocities without accountability.
Families of the disappeared continue to face severe emotional and economic challenges, with many losing the primary breadwinners of their households. The societal impact includes the distressing emergence of “half-widows” and “half-orphans,” as those missing are neither confirmed dead nor alive. Local human rights groups and activists, including the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), demand India adhere to international human rights commitments to resolve these disappearances. They call on the global community to intervene and ensure justice for the thousands missing and their families still seeking closure.