By Sara Nazir

Since 1947, India has continued its repressive regime in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) through various machinations in order to maintain its illegal control. Kashmir is currently among the most heavily militarized areas in the world, with around 700,000 to 900,000 Indian soldiers, paramilitary forces, and private security forces stationed in the valley. Various forms of state terrorism have been part of deliberate campaign by Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacres, target killings, siege burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rapes, breaking of limbs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government continues to exercise its systematic discrimination and stigmatization of religious and other minorities, particularly Muslims. BJP supporters are increasingly committing violent attacks against targeted groups. The government’s Hindu majoritarian ideology is reflected in institutional bias, including the justice system and constitutional authorities like the National Human Rights Commission.

One of the prominent case in this regard is undisputedly of Burhan Muzaffar Wani who was a commander of Hizbul Mujahedeen partaking in IIOJK and later became a symbol of Kashmiri resistance against the Indian occupational forces. He remained a threat to Indian suppression in IIOJK for 6 years and was finally martyred by Indian security agencies on July 8, 2016. Wani and his associates were killed by armed forces in Anantnag district of southern Kashmir in 2016. Burhan joined the Kashmiri freedom struggle in October 16, 2010 to avenge the humiliation of Kashmiri people when he was severely beaten/ insulted by Indian troops. He wielded massive popularity among Kashmiri populace, especially youth, due to his unflinching support for Kashmir’s freedom struggle. Burhan eventually clutched huge following and symbolically he had gained a pedestal that was worrisome for Indian occupying forces.

He was an intelligent and smart Kashmiri freedom fighter with an understanding of political dynamics and was in complete harmony with All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to promote Kashmir’s struggle. Wani was the face of Kashmiri resistance against Indian Army’s brutal tactics in IIOJK. He single-handedly reinvigorated the freedom struggle and became a beacon of resistance. Burhan used modern communication platforms like the internet to promote Kashmiri cause on social media that sent shock waves across top ranks of the Indian government/ military leadership and gave sleepless nights to the New Delhi’s security establishment for more than six years. He broke over 20 Indian army crackdowns with the help of local people who came to rescue him while pelting security forces with stones during siege and search operations that showed the popularity and love of the people for Burhan in IIOJK.

Following the martyrdom of Wani, protests and violence erupted in the region which lasted for almost eight months. It demonstrated people’s affection with Wani and his cause. All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) announced a week long commemoration program with shut downs and protests in the wake of his brutal murder at the hands of Indian fascist terror regime aka BJP.

Due to his worldwide popularity and social media outreach, number of international media outlets highlighted Burhan Wani’s case and termed his murder an outcome of Indian brutalities towards Kashmiri people especially Kashmiri Muslims. Not only this, but number of international human rights organizations also highlighted Wani’s freedom struggle. In the wake of Wani’s death anniversary, this year Indian government imposed strict curfews across the valley to forcefully stop people from showing solidarity with his cause- a usual practice of the Indian government each year.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan (MOFA), on the behalf of government and its people has paid strong tribute to the life legacy of Burhan Wani, “While paying homage to Burhan Wani as the face of the indigenous Kashmir freedom movement, Pakistan once again urges the Government of India to desist from indiscriminate use of force and relentless targeting of Kashmiris especially the youth. Pakistan also urges the international community to play its due role for a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people”.

The BJP’s terror regime must remain mindful of the reality that Kashmir’s freedom struggle is adorned with the blood of martyrs and therefore no power on earth could defeat it through oppressive measures. Kashmiri leaders and freedom fighters strived and sacrificed their lives for the sacred cause and got their names written with honor and dignity in the annals of Kashmir history and will continue to do so till their homeland is free from India’s evil clutch. BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are perhaps wrongfully convinced into thinking that they might be able to break the back of Kashmir’s freedom struggle with enduring inhuman violence- a goal India has been unable to achieve even after over seven decades of committing heinous HRVs in the region.

*Opinions expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of The South Asia Times