Leaders of Indian women’s organisations who visited occupied Kashmir earlier this month revealed that 13000 Kashmiri youth have been taken by security forces during the recent lockdown of the valley by Indian forces.
A team of five Indian women visited Indian-administered Kashmir from September 17 until 21 to put together a fact finding report about the situation in the region.
Speaking at the Delhi Press Club, the five brave women shared their experiences and observations with the media and concerned citizens after visiting Kashmir under lockdown for the past 51 days.
“[They have been] waiting and waiting for their 14, 15, 17, 19-year-old sons. Their last glimpse is embedded in each heart, they dare not give up hope, but they know it will be a long wait before they see their tortured bodies or their corpses” Annie Raja from the group said.
“When we reached there, it was like walking into a cloud of depression,” Dr Syeda Hameed and Annie Raja explained, terming their findings an eyewitness account.
They say that they covered 17 villages and 13 areas to asses diverse regions of Srinagar, Bandipore, Shopian and Pulwama districts . They also spoke to different authorities and engage with all kinds of agencies working on the ground.
Moreover, in occupied Kashmir, Hurriyat activists have circulated handbills and posters reaffirming pledge that they will not let Hindutva forces to succeed in their design to make slave Kashmiri people.
The handbills pasted on electric poles, shop shutters and walls ask people to get united for their honour and identity leaving all small differences aside. “Let’s defend ourselves and fight back against the aggression of Indian coward strategy.”
