Video By: Rayees Ahmed | Article By: Sajad Rasool
Blinded by pellets, suffering from Asthma and gallbladder recently removed, Suhail Ahmed was booked under infamous Public Safety Act (PSA) law by authorities in September this year. Suhail is charged with stone pelting on Indian security forces. Suhail, a 26-year-old young man from Pulwama area of Kashmir was hit by pellets during a protest demonstration in March last year. According to the family of Suhail, they cannot fight the legal battle or visit their son in a Jammu jail, around 300 KMs away from Pulwama given their financial situation. They maintained that he was sick and has been supporting the family financially.
While the stone pelting and anti-India protest demonstrations have increased in the valley of Kashmir from last several years, Indian authorities claim of having the situation under control. The street protests against Indian rule in this disputed region have seen a rise which has resulted in more killings and crackdown on militants. According to Free Press Kashmir , in the year 2017, a total of 384 casualties were reported this year, while it was militants who topped the casualty list.
It were not only the militants that felt the brunt this year, but Government Forces too suffered casualties. The data shows that 93 armed forces personnel also lost their lives during different militancy related operations. These include 52 Army soldiers, 33 Policemen, 05 CRPF personnel, 02 BSF men and one security man from Sahastra Seema Bal.
The year witnessed a surge in civilian killings. 81 civilians including 8 Amarnath Yatris were killed in different parts of Kashmir Valley. Besides three laborers working for General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) were also killed in a militant attack.
In the 10 months of 2018, more than 200 casualties were reported in Kashmir. Public Safety Act has been termed as a ‘lawless law’ by Amnesty International and continues to haunt Kashmiris.
