The summer of 2010 brought on a significant change in the Kashmiri struggle for independence from India. From being a pan-Islamic militant movement sponsored by Pakistan in 1989, it had now transformed into a non-violent indigenous people’s struggle in the world’s most militarised regions.
Kashmiris continue to express themselves against what they view as an “illegal military occupation” by India through peaceful protests, civil strikes, sit-ins, internet and graffiti campaigns, rallies and demonstrations.
Since June, 124 unarmed protesters, including men, women and children were killed at demonstrations for protesting widespread human rights violations that have occurred during the occupation of Kashmir.
Scores have been jailed under draconian laws that have failed to spare even 13-year-olds. Kashmir does not have any juvenile courts or detention centres to hold hundreds of teenagers booked under draconian laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Despite the fear of arrest, the youth have since then used the Internet to post blogs, photographs of human rights violations and videos of 2010 killings, while the government gagged the press for weeks.
The shift in the method of protest – from armed militancy to non-violence – has dissociated the struggle with the pan-Islamic movement and the armed struggle of the nineties, contrary to state propaganda. This change could not only have been brought about because of Kashmir’s own history of state violence and human rights violations, but also the shifting geopolitical influences in Asia.
The Kashmiri struggle will not only determine the fate of India and its nuclear-powered neighbours, Pakistan and China, but also Asia’s future.
A young boy is picked up by the police during protests at Natipora in 2010. Youth and children have been jailed under un-constitutional laws, from heir homes during raids, the streets and even examination centres by the government to crush the voice of dissent. In Kashmir, often, under the ambit of draconian laws, detainees (youth and children) are not produced in court and the details of their detention are not recorded officially, giving the forces involved impunity from prosecution.
A pro-freedom demonstrator signals for cover in Downtown during protests. Teenagers resorted to stone throwing after being tear gassed or being fired upon by security forces in Kashmir. In 2010, 124 unarmed civilians — men, women and children — from the age of 8 onwards were shot to death by the security forces.
Police move into Rajouri Kadal in Downtown a few hours before teenager Tufail Matoo was killed by a tear gas shell fire at him in a football field not too far away in Downtown Srinagar.
A local photographer helps a woman cross a street amidst the violence in Natipora, Srinagar.
Security personnel target civilians during protests in Maisuma, Srinagar in the summer of 2010.
A girl peeps out of her window after shots were fired in Downtown, Srinagar.
Policemen take a break during protests in Hyderpora, Srinagar, in the summer of 2010. The government, in 2010 in Kashmir, banned Short Messaging Service (SMS), blocked cell phone signals in areas where there had been killings, cut electricity, confiscated newspapers before they hit the stands, prevented media vehicles from moving outside the city, reduced the time of daily news telecasts and imposed a strict curfew, issuing shoot-at-sight orders.
Tear gas is fired at protesters who quickly disperse during protests in Maisuma, Srinagar in the summer of 2010.
A policewoman takes a break during protests in Hyderpora, Srinagar, in the summer of 2010.
A protester charges at police personnel in Downtown, Srinagar.
Children chant pro-freedom slogans at Nigeen in Srinagar. The separatist leaders, after pressure from the locals, released weekly Protest Calendars to organise these forms of resistance against the state.
Mourners gather at a funeral of a man who was killed in a stone-pelting incident in 2010.
Mourners gather at a funeral of a youth who was killed in Srinagar in 2010.
Mourners gather at a funeral of a youngster shot by security forces during protests in Srinagar. As the momentum of the protests in Kashmir picked up, journalists and ambulances were fired upon. Even people attending funerals of protesters killed by the government forces, were not spared.
Friends and family at a funeral of a man who was killed in a stone-pelting incident in 2010.
Protesters chant pro-freedom slogans at a march at night in Shopian on the eve of the anniversary of the Shopian murders in 2010. The feeling of alienation in Kashmir is a strong one. And the underlying reasons that contribute to it are ignored by the mainstream media The interpretation of the conflict and the reasons behind the recent agitation is left to the state propagandists, who shift the blame to foreign jihadis and the Pakistani establishment. The cause of the conflict dates back to the partition of India and Pakistan. In addition, over two decades of unpunished human rights violations by the forces have been justified under the garb of “national interests”, thereby fuelling the rage amongst the population who endure the daily humiliations of living in a militarised society.
Women observe the protest call by a pro-freedom party in Abi Guzer in Srinagar during the summer of 2010. The separatist leaders, after pressure from the locals, released weekly Protest Calendars to organise these forms of resistance against the state.
(Left to right) EU Ambassador of the delegation Danielle, head of the delegation Sweden Ambassador to India, Lars Olof Lindgren, Spanish Ambassador Lon de la Riva, Kashmiri separatist leader Miwaiz Umer Farooq, Belgian Ambassador Jean Debouller and Second Secretary (Political Affairs) in the Swedish embassy Oscar Schlyter, held a meeting at Farooq’s residence in Srinagar to discuss human rights issues in 2010.
A cow with pro-freedom graffiti on a street in Srinagar during curfew.
Dilnaz Boga is a journalist from Mumbai. She is working for DNA,covering issues of the homeless in the city and the slums. She has also covered conflicts in Kashmir, North East, Chhattisgarh and Gadchirolli for several national and international publications.
She has done her BA in English and Psychology from Sophia college, Mumbai University and her MA in English literature from Mumbai University. In July 2004, she completed her MA in Peace and Conflict Studies with a distinction on her dissertation “Cycles of violence: The impact of human rights violations on the children in Kashmir” from the University of Sydney.