From: krishna@iss.nus.sg (...Krishnamoorthy.)
Subject: NEWS: Valley of torture, rape
Originator: krishna@suliman
Organization: National University of Singapore
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 03:12:43 GMT


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                           Valley of torture, rape          
                           -----------------------
                               By Brij Bhardwaj


 (This article excerpted from the Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 23 August 1992)

New Delhi, Aug.22:

Terrorism  hides  carefully  the  brutal force it has to use to overcome its
   opponents, but there are not many instances of force used with such total
   disregard  of  human  values  as   in   Kashmir  by   Pakistani - trained 
   fundamentalists who during the last  two years have killed 1,585 innocent
   people. 

According  to  reports  prepared  by  intelligence agencies and the migrants 
   belonging to the majority as well as  the  minority  communities, most of 
   those killed in Kashmir were not enemies, in the traditional  sense, that 
   is security personnel, but innocent people, including women and  children 
   in large numbers. 

Among the 1,585 victims,  981 were  Muslims,  218  Hindus,  mostly  Kashmiri 
   Pandits, and 23  Sikhs.  The  number of security personnel killed was 383. 
   The total included 12 prominent  political  leaders  and  510  Government 
   officials. Many of them were termed as  informers,  but  the truth is not 
   difficult to establish. The aim  of  the  killings was to destroy all who 
   were not prepared to obey the orders of the militants. 

The  worst  part  was  the  torture  which was inflicted on the victims. The 
   bodies bore ample evidence that the  militants  had  no love for Islam or
   human values, crushed bones, torn limbs, burnt skin,  eyes gorged out and
   private parts mutilated. 

The number of women raped can only be known from the figures  available from
   hospitals in Srinagar as many of  them  had  to  seek  medical  help  for 
   termination of unwanted pregnancies. 

The treatment meted out to  two  jawans of the Border Security Force was the 
   worst  as  they  were  not only tortured but also blown to bits with live 
   bombs  tied  to  their bodies.  A  well  known Kashmiri poet Sarwant Koul 
   "Prem" and his son were killed after brutal torture.

Death in the hands of the militants is generally without any formalities and
   quick but in some cases mock trials  are  staged and the victims executed
   publicly. The  militants  have no respect for age as the victims included
   a  veteran  freedom fighter  Maulana Masoodi, former member of Parliament,
   who had crossed 90 and was leading  a  retired  life.  Another victim was 
   Mr Subhan Dar, a former member of the State  Assembly,  in  his  eighties, 
   an  87-year  old  veteran  Communist  leader  Abdul  Sattar  Ranjoor.

The  victims  included  many  a  few  months  old infants. To demoralise the 
   judiciary a retired sessions judge, Mr K.N.Ganjoo  -  who  had  convicted
   a militant, Maqbool Bhat - and prominent  advocates  like Mr P.N.Bhat and 
   Mr Mohammad Sheban were eliminated. The political leaders killed included
   Awami Action Committee chairman Mohammad Farooq and Mir  Mustafa, neither
   of whom could be accused of being pro-India.

To enforce the use of the burqa, unknown in Kashmir till  recently, acid was
   thrown on young girls to disfigure their faces.  Young militants going to
   well-to-do families and demanding  that  they  should be allowed to marry
   their daughters, forced a large-scale migration from Srinagar.

These cases became so common that even leaders of the militants had to issue
   a warning  to  their  followers  and  express their unhappiness over such 
   happenings. 

The number  of women attacked is estimated to be over 300, and in many cases
   provoked angry demonstrations in towns like Srinagar and Anantnag.

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