SRINAGAR: Since the extrajudicial killing of prominent youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani in 2016, Indian troops have martyred 1821 Kashmiris, including 40 women, in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) region, according to a report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on the occasion of Burhan Wani’s martyrdom anniversary.
The report highlights that out of the total number of martyred Kashmiris, 242 individuals lost their lives in fake encounters or while in custody during this period. Additionally, it reveals that at least 29,984 people have been injured due to the use of excessive force by Indian military, paramilitary, and police personnel. The injuries were inflicted through the firing of bullets, pellets, and teargas shells on peaceful demonstrators and mourners in the occupied territory.
Indian Troops’ Fake Encounters
Burhan Wani, along with his two associates, was martyred by Indian troops in a fake encounter in the Kokernag area of Islamabad district on this day in 2016. His extrajudicial killing sparked a mass uprising in IIOJK, leading to a significant loss of innocent lives. Over the following months, Indian troops continued their violent crackdown, resulting in the martyrdom of more than 150 peaceful protesters through the use of bullets, pellets, and teargas shells.
The report serves as a reminder of the ongoing human rights violations and excessive use of force by Indian security forces in IIOJK. It further emphasizes the need for the international community to address the plight of the Kashmiri people and work towards a just and peaceful resolution of the long-standing Kashmir dispute.