Special Correspondent: Indian forces, in their latest act of state terrorism, martyred two Kashmiri youth in a fake encounter in Kupwara district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The youth were killed during a cordon and search operation in the Jamgund-Keran area of Kupwara district on Saturday. The operation was launched on Friday and was still ongoing, according to the latest reports.
Killings during cordon and search operations and fake encounters have repeatedly raised concerns among local residents, observers and human rights organizations over the circumstances surrounding such incidents. Residents say that youth are brought from other areas or interrogation centres and killed during operations before being labelled as militants.
International human rights organisations have repeatedly called for independent and transparent investigations into extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in IIOJK.
India has deployed more than one million forces’ personnel in occupied Jammu and Kashmir to maintain its illegal control over the territory. The personnel operate under laws such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which grants them sweeping powers and provides legal protection against prosecution.
Human rights advocates say the extensive Indian military presence and legal protections have contributed to a climate of impunity and have been used to suppress dissent and demands for right to self-determination in IIOJK.
Indian state terrorism has claimed over 96,507 Kashmiri lives since January 1989, including more than 7,426 in custody and fake encounters.