This report by JKCCS investigates the number of killings that took place between 1989-2006 in Baramulla district, Kashmir. One of the principal findings of the survey is that of the 5,106 people who were killed in Baramulla district between 1990 and 2007, a disproportionately high number of people belonged to the age group 18-35. This is the age group that comprises the principal breadwinners for most households. Thus it was not just lives lost, but livelihood too that was taken away, leaving whole families in penury. Of the total of 5,106 killed, nearly 50 per cent (2,508) were civilians and another 44 per cent (2,267) were militants. 3,634 people were killed from the 18-35 year age group.
Topics: extrajudicial killings in Baramulla, custodial killings, targeting of youth, targeting of civilians, enforced disappearances, targeting of young men
Terms: extrajudicial killings, excessive use of force, custodial killings, custodial killing of civilians, custodial torture, enforced disappearances, state impunity, collective punishment, social and economic impact of killings
More than 50 per cent of those killed in custody are civilians: clearly, civilians have been seen as legitimate targets in the war against militancy. This deflates two myths. One, that the army only targets combatants. Two, that militants have no support from local people. The fact is that the army has consistently conflated civilians and militants, seen them as one and the same thing. Civilians have therefore become “legitimate” targets.
Enforced disappearances reported for the whole period are 343. Out of this 81 are militants or former militants while five belonged to government forces and 11 were renegades. However an overwhelming 72 per cent (246) are civilians.
Out of the total 5106 people killed, the survey identifies perpetrators in case of 3337 deaths. But a large number of cases in the survey (1768) show that the perpetrators remain ‘unidentified’. Amongst these 3337 cases, in 2812 instances, Indian forces were found responsible for killings. In contrast, the survey points out that, 417 killings were caused by militants and 108 deaths were ascribed to “cross fire”. Significantly, 1952 militants were killed by government forces and 910 civilians also died at their hands.
Not surprisingly the survey registers that the year 1994 witnessed highest number of killings attributed to ‘unidentified gunmen’. According to the survey, out of a total of 1768 people killed and ascribed to unidentified gunmen between 1989 and 2006, a bulk of 833 slayings were perpetrated between 1994-2000. This coincides with the emergence of the Ikhwani phenomenon. The Indian army’s patronage to the renegades was aimed at crushing the popular support on the one hand, while giving the Indian state plausible deniability for the crimes against an entire people.
December 2007
Originally published
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