SRINAGAR – In occupied Kashmir, five-month long military clampdown andinternet suspension have added to the already traumatized people of Kashmiras the number of patients with various psychiatric ailments has increasedmanifold since 5th of August.
An earlier study carried out by French-based Doctors Without Borders, andSrinagar’s Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences says that every oneout of five people in Kashmir have symptoms of post-traumatic stressdisorder.
Meanwhile, an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty continues to haunt theKashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu and Ladakh regions on the142nd day of military siege and lockdown, today.
Indian forces are deployed in bulk while restrictions are in place underSection 144 to prevent protests against India’s illegal actions taken inthe aftermath of August 5. Eight youth also arrested by Indian policeduring raids in Baramulla and Shopian districts.
Hurriyat leaders and activists during a meeting expressed condolences overthe death of Awami Action Committee’s women wing chief, Fatima Begum inSrinagar. They expressed resentment over India’s decision not to allowMirwaiz Umar Farooq to participate in her funeral prayers.
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In New York, Global Rights Watchdog, the Human Rights Watch, has asked theIndian authorities to cease the use of unnecessary lethal force againstdemonstrators protesting a law that discriminates against Muslims.
The Human Rights Watch in a statement posted on its website, today, urgedthe Indian government to revoke the controversial Citizenship AmendmentAct, which violates India’s international obligations to preventdeprivation of citizenship on the basis of race, color, descent andethnicity.
It said 25 people have been killed and hundreds arrested since protestsbegan against the controversial law.