India is using physical, mental and psychological torture at a large scale as a tool to prolong its illegal hold on the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir and to suppress their righteous and just demand for plebiscite and right to self-determination acknowledged by the United Nations Security Council resolutions. A report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, revealed that Indian troops during their unabated acts of state terrorism martyred 96,317 Kashmiris including 7,341 in custody and fake encounters since January 1989 till date. India continues to use torture as a state policy by which people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to face horrific forms of torture at the hands of Indian forces in the internationally recognised disputed territory. The report maintained that 684 women have been martyred by the troops and paramilitary forces since January 2001 till date. It pointed out that womenfolk constitutes the majority of the Kashmiris are suffering from multiple psychic problems and mental torture.

The report said that Indian troops, paramilitary and police personnel arrested 171,612 Kashmiris, including women and children, during crackdowns and military operations since 1989 till date. “These arrested people were physically and mentally tortured by the Indian army, paramilitary and police personnel in different interrogation centers, police stations and jails. The use of torture by the troops has been widespread and indiscriminate in occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” it said. The report said Indian Army, paramilitary, Special Operation Group, National Investigation Agency and State Investigation Agency have established scores of torture centres including in police stations in occupied Kashmir where innocent Kashmiris are subjected to various kinds of brutal methods to extract information and confessional statements from them. “Cargo, Harinivas, Papa-1 and Papa-II, and Humhama and police stations are the most notorious interrogation centres where thousands of Kashmiris lost their lives due to severe torture during interrogation.

The report said that over five thousands of Hurriyat leaders, activists, youth, ulema, human rights defenders and journalists remain lodged in different jails of IIOJK and India under black laws, Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act (UAPA) in fake cases registered against them to suppress the Kashmiris’ political voice and internationally recognized legal demand of right to self-determination. The report revealed that India is using torture as a tool of suppression against to create fear psychosis, mental & psychological torture at a large scale to prolong its illegal hold on Jammu and Kashmir. It pointed out that womenfolk constitute the majority of the Kashmiris suffering from multiple psychic problems and mental torture. “Due to unending agony, Kashmiri widows, half widows are suffering from psychological and other problems. As per a study, women comprise more than 60% of psychiatric patients in IIOJK,” it added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan