NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Politics
India

Kunan Poshpora: 30 Years on, Survivors Await Justice as Case Remains Unheard in SC

February 23 is now commemorated every year as Kashmir Women’s Resistance Day, remembering the courage and committed struggle for justice by the survivors of the incident, who are still awaiting justice thirty years later.
Newsclick Report
23 Feb 2021
Kunan Poshpora: 30 Years on, Survivors Await Justice as Case Remains Unheard in SC

On the night of February 23, 1991, the villagers from Kunan and Poshpora villages in Kashmir’s Kupwara district were witness to a gruesome assault by the members of Indian armed forces. Nearly all women of the two villages became the victims of mass rapes perpetrated by the armed forces on the cold night.

February 23 is now commemorated every year as Kashmir Women’s Resistance Day, remembering the courage and committed struggle for justice by the survivors of the incident, who are still awaiting justice thirty years later, while the Indian army continues to enjoy impunity and protection granted by the State.

On the fateful night, the soldiers, who entered the villages in the guise of a cordon and search operation, dragged out the men from their houses for interrogation. They then proceeded to rape the women who were left behind, not leaving anyone.

These women, whose initial demands for justice were outrightly rejected by the State, have been unable to get any respite even after three decades. In an earlier interview with NewsClick, Natasha Rather, one of the authors of Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora?, said that the police took over two weeks to even register the complaints of the survivors of the gruesome incident.

The survivors approached the State Humans Rights Commission in 204, after the police closed the case in October 1991, citing untraced. Following the SHRC report in 2011, which found the allegations to be true, the commission recommended compensation for at least 40 victims, but to no avail.

Later in 2013, a group of 50 women including Rather, filed a PIL in the High Court for reopening the case. However, according to Rather, the HC did not admit the litigation citing that it was premature. This occurred as the J&K Police had failed to file the closure report for the case, which was closed as untraced in 1991, even after 22 years. The police finally filed the closure report in 2013, after the PIL was filed.

As the survivors approached the sub-judge, the Kupwara Judicial Magistrate ordered further investigation. But, after the police failed to take action the survivors filed a fresh petition in “the High Court for orders on compensation and reinvestigation following the SHRC recommendation”, according to Rather.

Again, the army approached the High Court and got the orders for compensation and investigation stayed. While the then state government of Jammu and Kashmir challenged these orders in the Supreme Court in 2014, the Union of India in 2016, filed another petition in the SC that raised question on the SHRCs jurisdiction for passing an order in six cases involving the armed forces, referring the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that grants impunity to the armed forces.

In the same year, the Supreme Court stayed the orders for reinvestigation and compensation. Ever since, the case has remained in the registry of the Supreme Court, without being listed for hearing in four years.

According to the survivors, as well as the authors of Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora?, the reason for continuing their struggle for justice is to keep the memory of the incident alive. While justice has been denied again and again, for the survivors “remembrance is important for resistance” so that their voice cannot be repressed again by the State as has been done so far.

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Jammu and Kashmir
Kunan Poshpora
Mass Rapes
Jammu and Kashmir Government
Union Government
Armed Forces Attack in Kashmir
Related Stories
J&K

Life After Art. 370: How J&K Government Insults Covid Warriors

‘Guided Tour’: Foreign Envoys from 24 Countries Visit Kashmir

‘Guided Tour’: Foreign Envoys from 24 Countries Visit Kashmir

RTI

Life after Article 370: A Little Hope Flickers for RTI Act, 2005

Kashmir 4g

J&K: Internet Normalcy Returns After 1.5 Years, 4G Services Active

Parliamentary Standing Committee to Jammu & Kashmir

Parliamentary Committee Skips Jammu During Visit to Assess Tourism Industry, Draws Flak

Normal Life Disrupted in Kashmir as Restriction, Shutdown Mark Republic Day

Normal Life Disrupted in Kashmir as Restriction, Shutdown Mark Republic Day

‘Refused Police Jobs Despite Domicile Certificate,’ Claim West Pakistan Refugees in J&K, Launch Protest

‘Refused Police Jobs Despite Domicile Certificate,’ Claim West Pakistan Refugees in J&K, Launch Protest

covid 19 vaccine J&K

COVID-19: Amid Apprehensions, over 3,700 Vaccinated in J&K in Two Days

auto driver

First Female Auto Driver in Jammu Leading the Way in Breaking Stereotypes

J&K political parties

Young J&K Activists Launch People’s United Front to Raise Voice against Administration

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

Sagrika Kissu

J&K: Property Tax Imposition Comes under Criticism from Political Parties

25 February 2021
The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration led by Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha issued a notification last week imposing pro
Anees Zargar

Jammu and Kashmir: Surprise Crackdown in Srinagar Brings Back Troubled Memories, Impedes Life

23 February 2021
Srinagar: The government forces carried out a ‘surprise’ crackdown in the commercial area of Srinagar’s Amira Kadal, bringing move
Sagrika Kissu

Jammu: Delhi Police Takes Two into Custody for Republic Day Violence

23 February 2021
The Delhi Police Crime Branch have taken two people from Jammu into custody for their alleged involvement in the incidents of violence

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • cpim delhi

    CPI(M) Protests Against Modi-Government's ‘Anti-People’ Policies

  • govt kerala

    Kerala Government Announces Welfare Fund for IT Employees

  • Yechury Hits Out at Govt Over Hike in Fares of Short Distance Trains

  • Nirav Modi

    PNB Scam: Diamantaire Nirav Modi Can be Extradited to India, Rules UK Judge

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about