Kashmiri Women, the Silent Sufferers 

On 8th of March every year, the international Women’s day is being observed in the world. It is an initiative to highlight and promote the women empowerment, gender-equality, freedom , safety, end of domestic violence, self decision-making, independency etc. The success stories are being narrated worldwide about the powerful women of the world.

In our kashmir, there are very few stories on women empowerment ,bravery, etc. But they all are in the dim light because the atrocities and brutality against women in kashmir are in such a number that it erodes the stories of successful women under that black layer of violence. Women of kashmir has been the silent rebel and survival of the violence from the start of the race — on this disputed road of kashmir.

Rapes, disappearance, encounter, curfews, crackdowns, night-raids, sexual harassment, molestation, domestic violence and many such elements which deeply effected the souls of a helpless kashmiri women and become a victim of all these elements since from decades. Woes and worries were listened by none.

Memories of Pain:

I still remember that 17 year old girl (12th class student) , who was crushed to death on her way to tuition by two Hooligans, only because she spurned their advances in the upmarket of Baghat area of Srinagar city. It was an open and Shut case, but still after 6 years the final judgement against the culprits has yet to come. The story of violence and crime against the kashmiri women doesn’t end here.
On the eve of new year in 2013, 28-year old young kashmiri women was attacked with acid by two men , it was the first time that any kashmiri women was brushed with acid attack. These two men perpetrated this heinous assault only because she had refused a marriage proposal of one of the hooligan.

It was time, when she was preparing for her forthcoming engagement ceremony that was scheduled to take place a few weeks later. She was dreaming of being a bride, decorating her hands with henna and celebrating her big day. But all her dreams have been shattered. Her happiness has been turned into distressed life and an everlasting struggle to convalesce.

It is true that the culprits are behind bars but among them maximum stay unchastised. Denial of justice also become one of the reason for the steep increase in monstrous and heinous crimes against the women of kashmir.

Kashmir valley is witnessing an upward trend in crime against women since last two decades. As more and more women are becoming visible in public life, patriarchy faces a crisis, which is manifested in increasing crime against women in Kashmir.

Every year, thousands of women experience sexual, physical or emotional abuse, both in and outside their homes. Research indicates that more than 40 percent of women in kashmir are physically or emotionally abused by the husbands and/ or the in-laws.

According to Srinagar’s only women police station — they receive 1,000 to 1,500 complaints of domestic violence annually. And in addition to this Kashmir’s State Women Commission receives an additional 500 complaints on average every year. The assurances by women cells are comforting but hold little weight in a society that routinely puts women’s issues on the backburner, a reality reflected in the low rate of reporting sexual crimes.

In previous year, some newspapers quoting officials from the State Home Ministry stated that over 4,000 culprits have been booked in connection with these crimes, but rights groups maintain that prosecution levels are too low to act as a deterrent.
We need to come out united now and fight against this ill – disease which is spreading vigorously in our society and have to construct our valley once again into a real heaven with safety, freedom and wings of strength for our sisters, mothers and daughters so that they can fly freely and happily in their own designed sky.

By A aqib Javaid
The author is a Student of Intellectual Property Rights At Jamia Hamdard‎ University,New Delhi. The views expressed in this article are personal