Indian forces’ personnel have martyred 930 children in their unabated acts of state terrorism over the past 37 years in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.  A report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on the occasion of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression revealed that 930 children were among 96,449 Kashmiris martyred by Indian forces’ personnel from January, 1989, till date. 

The only meaningful way to mark  the day is to protect Kashmiri children from political injustice, occupation and state violence. The report stated that the killing of civilians by Indian forces’ personnel rendered 107,982 children orphaned in the internationally-recognized disputed territory during the period. The report further said that thousands of people, including school boys and girls, were also injured by  the use of brute forces, pellets, bullets, and teargas shells fired by Indian troops and paramilitary forces.

Hundreds of persons, including teenagers, have lost eyesight in one or both eyes due to the firing of pellet, PAVA and teargas shells since 2010 in the territory. The report said Indian military and police violence under black laws has left deep, lifelong scars on the mental & physical health of Kashmiri children.

The children in IIOJK grow up watching atrocities, house raids, cordon and search operations and detentions of their loved ones.  The report added that hundreds of boys and girls aged below 19 have been martyred during cordon and search operations and fake encounters and custody, while a large number of boys including students under the age of 19 are facing illegal detentions under black laws in different jails of IIOJK and India. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)