Islamabad: In a recent act of state terrorism, Indian forces martyred a youth in fake encounter in Budgam district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The youth was killed in a fake encounter by personnel of the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) during a cordon and search operation in the Korag area of Yousmarg in the district.
The victim was identified as Sulaiman Shah. The Indian Army, while justifying the killing, claimed that it, along with other forces, launched an operation in the general area of Korag, Yousmarg, after observing suspicious activity. It claimed that an exchange of gunfire took place, resulting in the killing of a militant.
Indian forces had also martyred a youth, Yasir, in a similar fake encounter in the same area on September 5.
The occupation forces continued their cordon and search operations in different areas of Budgam, Baramulla, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Local residents complained that the phenomenon of extrajudicial killings has increased manifold, saying that the Indian Army and paramilitary forces, along with the Special Operations Group (SOG), bring youth from outside the area or from interrogation centres and kill them during search operations after branding them as militants.
India has deployed over one million troops in IIOJK to maintain its illegal control over the territory, making it one of the world’s most heavily militarized regions. Indian forces operate with total immunity under draconian laws like AFSPA in IIOJK, giving them full freedom to commit state terrorism in the territory without any fear of legal accountability.
Indian government is using this massive military power to crush every single voice demanding freedom, permanently silencing anyone who stands up against occupation in IIOJK.
Indian state terrorism has claimed over 96,502 Kashmiri lives since January 1989, including more than 7,421 in custodial killings and fake encounters.
Given the highly militarized environment in IIOJK and concerns over accountability, rights groups have called for independent investigations into such incidents.
The involvement of impartial international observers, including UN bodies, could help establish the facts, ensure credible verification of extrajudicial killings and provide justice to victims and their families.