In the bloodied first six months of 2020, at least 229 killings in different incidents of violence have been witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the bi-annual report by the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), the period from 1 January to 30 June 2020 witnessed “the extrajudicial executions of at least 32 civilians, besides killings of 143 militants and 54 armed forces personnel.”
The report reads that three children and two women were also killed, while as “at least 107 Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) and Cordon and Destroy Operations (CADO’s) were conducted in J-K which resulted in the killing of 143 militants.”
At least 57 gunfights took place between the government forces and the militants following CASOs. “During CASOs and encounters, vandalism and destruction of civilian properties was reported. In the first six months of 2020, media continued to be at the receiving end of the pressure, intimidation and harassment by the authorities, with several incidents of beating and thrashing of journalists. Besides physical assaults, few Kashmir based journalists were also booked under stringent charges and cases were filed against them,” the report reads.
In this period, the 4G mobile internet services continued to be banned, which has been banned since 5 August last year. In last six months, there were 55 instances of internet blockades.
Recording the “destruction of civilian properties by armed forces personnel during encounters or while dealing with the protestors,” the report adds that “at least 48 cases of destruction of civilian properties were reported in Jammu
and Kashmir since 1 January.”
