The Psycho-Social Implications Of War Crimes On People Of Gurez (Kashmir):
A Study Of Landmine Risks
By Aijaz Ahmad Mir
15 April, 2014
Countercurrents.org
Gurez is a valley located in the high Himalayas , about 86 kilometres from Bandipore and 123 kilometres from Srinagar in northern Jammu and Kashmir . At about 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow capped mountains. Dawar is the central township in the area. The population of the area is estimated to be about 30,000, and is scattered among fifteen villages. Due to heavy snowfall in winter, the valley remains cut off for six months of the year 1 .
Gurez Valley :
The main valley of Gurez starts from the Popular Garden near Badwan village and is approx 9 miles in length and about one mile in bredth ending at chorwan village. This valley comprises of 10 villages and total population of these villages is 10351. (Male=5050 & female=5301) situated along the kishanganga river.
The valley tulail starts near Habba Khatoon a huge mountain peak east of main Gurez Valley and ends at Kaobal Gail Tulaill is a deep and steep valley comprising of 32 villages and total population of these villages are 11506.(male=6435&female=5071), maximum of them situated on high tops amid mounds. The valley is approximately 80 miles long and a one and half mile wide 2 .
The whole valley experiences heavy snowfall from mid Nov to Mar. The temp during winter dips to -20 C. Due to heavy snowfall, the valley remains cut off from the outside world for duration of approx six months every year. Movement from one place to another is on foot during this period.
1. safejourneys kashmir .com/gurais.html ?, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurais ?
2. Save the Children report 2013
Impact of conflict:
Kashmiri society is in conflict over half a century now; there is no sign of an end to this dense and complicated dispute. It is an admitted fact that conflict/ turmoil situation has disturbed the whole law and order situation in the state which latently increased human rights violations. Millions of people (men, women and children) got killed, disappeared, tortured etc, due to landmines, unexploded shells and indiscriminate firing, shells across the borders which turned the whole valley into land of widows and orfans. The areas near borders are most sufferers and affected by landmines or shelling from both rivals. Due to landmines, unexploded shells and indiscriminate firing of shells across the borders many people including children got affected. People especially children are unaware to reduce the risks and such kind of incidents happen due to ignorance and lack of knowledge. As the Gurez and Tulail are situated on LOC between India and Pakistan and therefore happenings of such kind of incidents is always there.
Landmines a war Crime:
A land mine is an explosive device, concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near the device. Such devices are typically detonated automatically by way of pressure from the target stepping or driving on it, though other detonation mechanisms may be possible. The device may cause damage either by a direct blast or by fragments that are thrown by the blast. World scenario of landmine disaster is almost 15000-20000 victims/year. Out of which 70% of victims are civilians. One-third die others lose limbs and/or vision. It is considered human rights violation under humanistic law.
It is figured that almost 50 million land mines are being installed every year and only one million are being cleared every year. The fact stands that instead of being banned by the various International Humanitarian organizations to install Land mines stands inapplicable to various conflict hit countries. As per the estimation from United Nations Organization (UNO) after every 28 minutes some one in the world steps on the landmine. World is facing the serious threat of land mines in every corner of the world.
Psycho-social impact of war crimes on people of Gurez:
i. Gurez a high altitude valley in district Bandipora, considered as the Scheduled Tribe society, under SRO- 126 and article 338(A) of the Indian constitution. The people have their separate territory and dialect. The speak Dard Sheena dialect. The area locates near LOC between India and Pakistan occupied territories and is the hot spot for both tne countries for landmines and shelling. People lack the basic amenities of sustenance and fall under the category of absolute poverty. As a universal fact poverty impacts every sphere of man's life i.e, economy, health and hygiene, education, food, shelter etc.
ii. The valley of Gurez is highly volatile in terms of conflict and security. The threat of shelling has forced them to live scattered with some distance between the houses. The villages are themselves naturally separated all the way through large mountains. This situation has led the people to travel long distances particularly the school going children. That is the reason the school dropout rate is high in the valley.
iii. Located at LOC, the impact of shelling has left hundreds of people blind because of the radiations emitted by the shells at night. Most of the people have turned disables. But the problem is that no any Govt or Non-govt authority has provided them any sort of monetary or social support.
iv. There is 15% increase in the rate of abortions due to the radiations emitted through shelling etc.
v. High rate of patients with chest diseases like Asthma, throat infections etc.
vi. After the age of 25 most of people suffer with hearing problem because of the shelling and blasts which happen often during reharsalls and trainning of troopers from both the sides.
vii. People suffer with joints pain due to high intensity of cold as the people remain inside for almost six months.
viii. The matter of high concern is that ABORTION rates in females are high because of the same radiations from launching shells. This situation has led to the develpoment of psycho-social manifestations in females like, depression, anxity, MDD (Mild Depressive Disorder), PTSD (Post Trumatic Stress Disorder) etc.
ix. The area remains under natures lap for almost six months during winters and remains cutoff from rest of the world due to heavy snowfall. So, people spent most of their time inside having no work to do, so that they can earn their livelihood. That is the reason poverty is on rise in the area.
x. The female students are always in threat of women criminality i.e, being harassed, kidnapped, eve-teased, abducted or raped. Because of not having the adequate transport facility they are being lifted by armed vehicles, NHPC pvt vehicles etc. This grim situation has led their parents to think of their security and left their schooling.
Recommendations:
• The landmine victims should be covered under social services schemes.
• Awareness programmes on health & hygiene, social protection schemes should be organized frequently.
• The chunk of out of school children is the main problem in Gurez valley and a strategy to mainstream them should be framed soon.
• Violence affected people like landmine victims must be provided livelihood support.
• Landmines should be cleared and shelling should be stopped as that is the base of all psycho-social problems in the area.
• Seprate and secure transpotation for the school going children particularly female students.
• People should be awared about do's and don't's in the landmine prone/ danger areas and proper danger signs and signals should be used.
• Technical experts must be consulted, and proper procedures must be taught through practical exercises and not simply through media techniques.
AIJAZ AHMAD MIR: Research Scholar in Department of Sociology, University of Kashmir , Srinagar India . Presently I am working on various criminal issues and problems in Jammu and Kashmir . I have worked for community and social development in Kashmir with different National and International institutions and organizations like Action Aid India, IGSSS, Mercy Corps International, Coveter Foundation New Delhi, Institute for Research on India and International Studies (IRIIS) New Delhi, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi etc. Handling the multidimensional job profiles with different organizations have worked for Entrepreneurship development, development interventions in J&K, Anti-Poverty Schemes implementations, Consumerism, community resilience building and working for marginalized sections of the society. The author can be mailed at: Email: [email protected]
Comments are moderated