Kunan-Poshpora victims narrate nightmarish ordeal ‘We Will Never Forget The Horrific Night When We Lost Everything’ Srinagar, June 22: Tears trickled down from every eyewhen victims of Kunan-Poshpora mass rape recounted the bone-chilling incident here today and sought support of people of Kashmir to bring the perpetrators to justice. “We were ruthlessly raped by the indian army. We have been stigmatized, left alone by our own people and denied justice by successive regimes for the past 22 years,” one of the victims of1991 mass rape case narrated during a programme here leaving every eye moist. This was a maiden programme where the victimsopenly spoke their heart outbefore journalists and civil society members. The programme ‘Kunan-Poshpora mass rape and torture: Case reopening and future struggle for justice’ was organized by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) here in the backdrop of recent order of a local court in Kupwara to reinvestigate the case. Twin Kunan and Poshpora villages in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district witnessed mass rape of over 40 women allegedly by the soldiers of the Army’s 4 Rajputana Rifles of 68 Brigade during the intervening night of February23 and 24 in 1991. “We can never forget the horrific night when we lost everything - our chastity, dignity and self- respect. Army personnel cordoned our village and ordered all men out of homes. They barged into out homes...we resisted, cried for help but to no avail.That night seemed too long and unending and they rapedus one by one brutally,” recounted one of the victims. “For many days we were lying in the same condition asArmy continued the cordon around our village. Many young girls were bleeding profusely, some were crying and others left shell shocked.It was like a hell all around.” For some minutes there was complete silence in the audience at a local hotel here. After some moments only sobs could be heard. “Due to gang-rape uterus of18 young victims were damaged and had to be surgically removed. We faced social boycott for no fault of ours. Successive regimes leftno stone unturned to hush up the case by changing our statements. Since 1991 no one came to our rescue. We have been fighting a lone battle,” the victims said. The audience stood up and gave a standing ovation as amark of tribute to resilience and courage of these victims. “When a girl was gang-raped in Delhi whole india rose against it. But in our case there was total silence. We don’t want any women to suffer like us. We don’t want money or jobs but justice. We were raped but through our struggle we will expose and dishonor the accused. It is our last wish to get the accused punished,”the victims said. “Don’t feel alone or stigmatized. We will extend moral and legal support to you in your pursuit for justice. It is a collective responsibility of every Kashmiri to support these victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” senior civil society member Dr Altaf Hussain told the victims. On the occasion Ifrah Mushtaq one of the representatives of the support group for Kunan- Poshpora victims said for 22years the people of these villages have lived with injustice. “For over two decades, civilsociety, human rights activists, journalists, lawyers, social workers came, heard their story, clicked their pictures and left.There have been contributions along the way, but mostly, it has been 22 years of absolute and continued injustice,” Ifrah said. She termed the recent order of Judicial Magistrate Kupwara for further investigation into the case asan achievement. “But it isthe same JK police which will carryout investigation and the same Army from whom cooperation for probe will besought. We will monitor thepolice investigations closely. We commit to hold accountable anyone who supported the atrocities in Kunan- Poshpora in February199,” she said.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 04:22:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015