ISLAMABAD ( STAFF REPORT )
The deceased include 65 civilians, 232 Armed Rebels and 177 Indian occupying forces. 2020 may be recorded as “Zero year” in the human history for the COVID-19 pandemic forced most of global citizenry inside their homes to save themselves from the deadly infection. However, for Indian-occupied Kashmir, this year added more complications and saw no letup in atrocities committed by the Indian occupying forces. This annual report prepared by Legal Forum for Oppressed Voices of Kashmir (LFOVK) on the situation of human rights in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir covers the period from 1 January to 30 December 2020. 2020 saw India launching a broad-day inhuman attack on Kashmir’s civil society, raiding residencies and offices of human rights defenders, journalists and civil society organizations. The year witnessed killing of 177 Indian occupying forces and 232 militants besides extrajudicial killing of 65 civilians across the UN designated disputed territory of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. From January 01, to 30 December 2020, the Indian occupying forces launched the so-called 312 Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) and Cordon and Destroy Operations (CADOs) which resulted in 124 encounters in which 232 militants died fighting Indian occupying forces. 177 Indian occupational forces were also killed during these encounters. During encounters, at least 657 houses were vandalized and destroyed by the Indian occupying forces. The destruction of civilian properties during encounters saw an increase during the COVID-19 lockdown enforced by the government; an entire village in Budgam district was vandalized rendering many families homeless and without shelter. This is despite the fact that United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a global ceasefire in conflict regions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But, as usual offender of international law and agreements, India defied the call from world’s highest office and continued with its war crimes policies in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. 65 civilians were killed in different violence related accidents included extrajudicial killing of 3 laborers in Shopian in a staged gun fight by Indian occupational forces. This year, the Journalists working for Kashmir and international media continued to be at the receiving end of the pressure, intimidation and harassment by the Indian authorities. Many journalists were booked under criminal laws while one still remains behind bars amid delayed trial by the government agencies. Governing authorities launched new media policy in which government now holds full control on newspaper and magazines. 2020 witnessed the continuation of the ban on high-speed internet services which remain in force since August 5 2019. The right to access information continues to be severely restricted in Jammu and Kashmir as part of India’s all-out onslaught against Kashmiris as there were 141 instances of internet blockades recorded from January 1 to December 30 2020. This, amid deadly pandemic, when internet was of utmost importance for health authorities as well as general public. During the period from 01, January to 30 December, 2773 persons were detained and arrested by Indian occupational forces and lodged in different jails across India. This year saw one of the worst assaults on human rights when India rushed its agencies to Kashmir which raided residencies and offices of Journalists, human rights workers and civil society organizations. In early November, India’s so-called anti-terror body NIA raided residence of Khurram Parvez, Parvaiz Bukhari besides others. The raids were held on rights bodies offices, NGOs. This is unprecedented wherein Journalists and human rights defenders are put under such humiliation. *-*-*-*