June 11, 2025, marks 34 years since the Chotta Bazar Massacre in Srinagar, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). On this day in 1991, Indian forces opened indiscriminate fire on civilians. They killed 32 innocent Kashmiris, including women and children. Despite repeated demands, justice remains out of reach.
Since then, India has continued its brutal crackdown in IIOJK. Extra-judicial killings, fake encounters, custodial torture, and collective punishment remain common. The goal, rights groups say, is to instill fear and suppress demands for self-determination.
Over the years, Indian forces have carried out over 30 organized attacks on civilians in Kashmir. These include the Gawkadal massacre (1990, 60 killed), Handwara (1990, 17 killed), Sopore (1993, 55 killed), and Windhama Ganderbal (1998, 26 killed). The scale of violence continues to rise, with no accountability in sight.
International Silence Fuels Impunity
Meanwhile, international bodies and human rights groups have raised concerns. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its 2018 and 2019 reports urged an independent Commission of Inquiry into these violations. So far, no concrete action has been taken.
Pakistan has renewed its call for justice. It demands the UN and international community hold India accountable. According to Islamabad, India has become an apartheid state where equality is a distant ideal.
Furthermore, critics argue that western powers turn a blind eye due to political and economic interests. India continues to present itself as a democracy while crushing dissent and violating minority rights.
Ultimately, the massacres in IIOJK remain ugly blots on India’s democratic image. Kashmiris demand justice. They call on the United Nations to launch an impartial investigation and end the long-standing cycle of violence.
Despite decades of repression, the people of Kashmir have not abandoned their rightful struggle. Their demand for self-determination, as guaranteed by United Nations Security Council resolutions, remains firm. In fact, each act of violence by Indian forces only strengthens their resolve. Human rights defenders stress that silence and inaction from the global community embolden India’s impunity. Therefore, they urge immediate international intervention to prevent further atrocities and support a just, peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict.
