Women Allege Eve-Teasing By Security Forces In Kashmir newsclick.in

The lockdown in Kashmir has reached 60 days today with the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special powers to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Amidst the lockdown, there are several reports of mass detentions and torture by the forces with women bearing the brunt of the unprecedented powers vested on the security forces. As one travels through the state from Srinagar to the villages of South Kashmir, there is a common thread that runs through — the stories of eve-teasing by security forces narrated by women. Some of them alleged they were filmed as they walked down the streets by the men in uniform, while many others reported the use of cuss words and threats of sexual assault.

Zikra, a teenager from Heff village in South Kashmir, says: “All of my friends have migrated to other places. Families are sending young girls away because of the threat from security forces. Many have fled to Jammu, some even to Delhi. I am also trying to figure out a plan to escape. I don’t want to face sexual assault. When we come out of our homes, we are filmed and stared at. This scares me and makes me uncomfortable.”