TERROR OPERATIONS IN CAMOUFLAGE

This essay explores the complex and disturbing story of oppression and violence in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising the sharp contrast between the Indian army's actions and the definition of terrorism. It looks at incidents or attacks like the terrible occurrences in Kunan Poshpora in 1991, where many women were gang-raped under the pretence of military operations, and the shooting of defenceless villagers by soldiers in 2006. A biased perception of justice and accountability has resulted in the state's regular labelling of the victims as militants or stone-pelters. If one dares to raise their voice, the puppet media and farce government create a milieu that portrays the people of Kashmir as the ones who are at fault. Since the narrative surrounding these events is still being created by denial, political interests, and poor investigation, the fight for justice and the truth is never-ending. The article seeks to highlight the legacy of violence and the Kashmiri people's unwavering yearning for justice and recognition via poetry and historical analysis.

“The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.”

This is the definition of terrorism according to the Oxford Dictionary. However, when it comes to labelling an act of terrorism in certain sections of society, the parameters seem polarised, often labelling a Kashmiri as a “stone pelter,” “militant,” or “nationalist.” For instance, on February 23, 2006, in Handwara, Indian Army soldiers shot at a group playing cricket, suspecting that a “militant” was hiding among them, and killed four boys, including an eight-year-old. Even the army admitted that the extraordinary powers to shoot have led to "mistakes.”

The army described the killing of three teenage boys in Kupwara in July 2005, who had sneaked away to smoke a cigarette at night and were shot without warning by troops, as an "error of judgement.” Such mistakes, which are not uncommon, greatly inflame public passions in Jammu and Kashmir. Most importantly, does the above definition of “terrorism” resonate with the “mistakes” of the Indian Army, or is it really justified to commit such heinous acts as a member of the Indian Army and still not be labelled as those who function as terrorists, but rather as “nationalists” and “protectors?”

Another such tyranny of the Indian Army occurred in Kunan Poshpora. It was on the evening of February 23, 1991, on a cold February night when these incidents took place. Under the cover of darkness, according to the villagers, 23 women (as per government data) were gang-raped, and men were tortured. The rapes and torture remain undocumented and uncovered in the whole saga. The pious and untouched army was a unit of the 4 Rajputana Rifles, 68 Mountain Brigade of the Indian Army, who came to the two villages to conduct a cordon-and-search operation. The soldiers were indiscriminate. They raped women as old as 60 and girls as young as 13, including a pregnant woman.

The soldiers were not double-faced, as quoted by a survivor in the Zubaan series: “When the army entered, I saw they had zips of their pants already opened, and they had clearly come with the intention of raping us.” They had only one intention, and they did what they wished to.

In the poem, Boonyi Tali by Afreen Faridi:

"She winced against the pain As her child gently nudged inside her Spreading warmth like a kanger held close A bloom awaiting for spring to blossom”

Written about the incident of the dark February night, “nudged inside her” refers to one of the heinous acts committed by the Indian Army. The celebrated heroes of India did not even spare a pregnant woman in her pain; they had fun naming this as an “operation” while posing it as a necessary act to ensure the safety of the state.

The night of Kunan Poshpora still terrifies the hearts of Kashmiris, but the central state government and judiciary gave it little attention and considered these dehumanising acts to be “unworthy” of being entertained in court. One FIR was filed after 15 days due to persistent pressure from villagers. Even that was miserably investigated, and the victims were blamed. There has been no movement in the closure of this case for over 20 years. All efforts through SHRC and a PIL filed in 2013 bore no fruit. Even the orders passed by a court to continue with further investigation were ignored. The denial of justice continues to be exactly what the officials wanted.

In 2013, then External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, during his visit to J&K, said, “What can I say? I can say only that I am ashamed that it happened in my country. I am apologetic and appalled that it had happened in my country.” Six women faced demons, but men were penalised too. As historian Uma Chakravarti points out, "Sexual violence against men has been almost completely undocumented or, at the very least, under-documented.” Now the point is: raping the young, old, and pregnant women; torturing the men; killing innocent civilians by “mistake”—is this not an act of terror? Or, as B.G. Verghese, heading the Press Council of India (PCI), remarked, is this whole dehumanising act merely a “bogus” act of militants hiding in the villages?

The series of mass rapes in Kunan Poshpora, the assaults on men and women, and the creation of “half widows”—a term for Kashmiri women uncertain if their husbands are alive—are atrocities that continue to haunt the valley. Protests against these acts often lead to more violence, leaving the Jhelum River to carry red water across the so-called “heaven on earth.”

“That’s when I stone, For my truth is in the stone, Not in their guns or lies.”

These lines by Agha Shahid Ali in his poem, I Protest, resonate with the condition of Kashmiris. Mass rapes, killings, and shootings by “mistake” and dehumanising remarks—these acts by the Indian Army are not labelled terrorism. Yet, when Kashmiris respond by throwing stones or kangris, they are labelled stone pelters and terrorists.

Rayyan Rashid is a student pursuing English Literature from Jamia Millia Islamia.

References:

1. “Terrorism – DW.” dw.com, 2 Jan. 2025, www.dw.com/en/terrorism/t-41956871.
2. Batool, Essar, et al. Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora? Zubaan, 2016. p56.
3. Batool, Essar, et al. Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora? Zubaan, 2016. Ch 5.
4. Faridi, Afreen G. “Boonyi Tal.” Jnu, Jan. 2021, www.academia.edu/44955736/Boonyi_Tal.
5. Getting Away With Murder: 50 Years of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/2008/india0808.
6. Verma, Priyarag. “Fatal Error: 3 Kids Killed in J&K.” The Times of India, 24 July 2005, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fatal-error-3-kids-killed-in-jk/articleshow/1181167.cms.
7. “What Happened on February 23, 1991?” Kashmir Observer, 23 Feb. 2016, kashmirobserver.net/2016/02/23/what-happened-on-february-23-1991.
8. “25 Years on, Remembering the Shame of Kunan-Poshpora.” CatchNews.com, 14 Feb. 2017,www.catchnews.com/national-news/kunan-poshpora-mass-rape-incident-kashmir-1991-kashmir-news-jammu-and-kashmir-1456153215.html.

Edited By: Sidra Aman

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.