Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741

Armed Conflict and Violence against Women in Jammu and Kashmir

1Bilal Ahmad Mir 2Dr. K. Somasundaran Ph. D. Research Scholar, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Annamalai University Annamalai University

Abstract:

The aim of this study to highlight the dimensions of violence against women in an armed conflict situation. A quantitative study was adopted for this study. The multi-stage sampling technique was adopted. The primary information gathered from 339 married respondents belonged to 18- 40 years of age group by using an interview schedule. The simple Frequency and Mean-Rank Method were applied for the analyses. As per the analysis, data reveals that 88.5 per cent respondent have faced violence due to the armed conflict. Majority of the have faced violence in the form of; threaten, abuse, eve-teasing are at the top in the hierarchy according to Mean Rank Method. The result also shows that the respondents were faced violence by different armed groups, among them; 60.6 per cent respondents were faced by security forces and 52.5 per cent respondents stated that they have fear of social ostracism otherwise they can complain against them. So, it could be concluded that women are directly or indirectly facing violence due to armed groups in the conflict situation.

Keywords: Armed conflict, Jammu and Kashmir, Violence, Women.

Introduction

Violence experienced by women and girls in an armed conflict, ranging violence from physical, sexual to psychological perpetrated by both state and non-state actors. They are involved in murder, unlawful killings, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, abductions, maiming and mutilation. The forced recruitment of women combatants, , , sexual exploitation, involuntary disappearance, arbitrary detention, forced marriage of women, , forced abortion, forced pregnancy and forced sterilization. has been used in an armed conflict situation for many different reasons, including in the form of torture, to inflict injury, to extract information, to degrade and intimidate, and to destroy communities. Rape of women has been used to humiliate opponents, to drive communities and groups off the land and to willfully spread HIV. They have been forced to perform sexual and domestic slave labour, abducted and then forced to serve as ‘wives’ to reward fighters.

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Violence against women clear-cut itself as physical, sexual, emotional and economic. The most universally general forms of violence include; domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence (including rape), , and psychological violence. Sexual violence as a tactic of warfare and in the aftermath of emergencies is also common in the respective countries and affected areas.

Violence against women is one of the most systematic and widespread human rights violations. It is rooted in gendered social structures rather than individual and random acts; it cuts across age, socio-economic, educational and geographic boundaries; affects all societies, and is a major obstacle to ending gender inequality and discrimination globally UN General Assembly (2006). The United Nations defines violence against women as “any act of gender- based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or any other form of suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”.

Presently, Kashmir is known more for violence less for scenic beauty. Last two decades, the conflict has not only made an irreparable loss to life and property but has done unimaginable harm to the womenfolk, who are at the receiving end directly and indirectly. The state authorities in a war situation used strict measures which include a curfew, search operations, arrests and third-degree torture which inflicted a devastating impact upon the local population, especially on women. It has been reported that around one lakh people have lost their lives in conflict mostly youth community and 10 lakh have injured due to the heavy weapons used. It has also been estimated that around 50,000 women have lost their husbands 4000 persons have disappeared in this ongoing conflict. Sexual violence against women not only occurs but is an essential aspect of conflict history. In Kashmir security forces have used it to intimidate, punish, coerce, humiliate and degrade the womenfolk. However, most of the crimes committed in Kashmir through security agencies went unnoticed because the victims used to face intimidation and social stigma. The conflict disrupted their education, job opportunities, and overall development, besides mental disorders assumed considerable importance among women in Kashmir due to the ongoing conflict. It reported from different studies, the psychiatric morbidity in patients increased from 9 to 25 per cent in 1995. As “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”.

Review of Literature

Violence against women is a farthest form of male control over women. Men’s violence pushes women into a subordinate position. Domestic violence against women is on the rise in Jammu and Kashmir. Even the educated and the economically independent women are at the receiving end, according to anecdotal evidence contained in police data (Sharma, 2010). During the last two decades, violence against women has increased, and militancy and the effect of armed conflict had made the situation tenser. Domestic violence in the state are practised against

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the women residing in urban as well as rural and in all economic, educational, cultural, social and age group and classes. About 15% of married women are physically and mentally tortured (Dabla, 2009). Ghulam Sarwer (2017) analysed that women in many regions of Jammu and Kashmir are still facing the issues and challenges related to education, health, domestic violence, politics, declining sex ratio, state violence, dowry harassment, eve-teasing, unequal wage, child labour and female feticide and infanticide etc.

The armed struggle emerged in the late 1980s for the right to self-determination, mostly by the youth of Kashmir valley against had a massive impact on the people of Kashmir at the whole especially women and children. There have been cases of both sexual and physical violence against women, committed by both, state as well as non-state actors (Nabi & Sharief, 2017). February 23, 1991, in Kunan Poshspora incident, occurred when units of the army launched a search operation in the village of Kunan Poshpora, located in Kashmir valley, Kupwara District. At least 53 women were allegedly gang-raped by soldiers during the night time. However, Human Rights organizations including Human Rights watch have reported that the number of raped women could be as high as 100 (Mattu, 2002). The Shopian rape and murder case is the alleged abduction, rape and murder of Asiya and Neelofar in mysterious circumstances between 29 and 30 May 2009 at Bongam, Shopian District. These two women were sisters-in-law went missing from their orchard on the way home at evening on 29 June 2009. The next day early morning, their dead bodies were found one kilometre apart to each other (GK, 2009). So many other cases occurred like in the State from last twenty years due to political turmoil.

Statement of the Problem

The effects of conflicts in Kashmir over have been documented in scholarly literature. These include death, displacement, health, and education. In the view of Yahaya (2011) conflicts banking, disrupts markets, and credit systems. In the dearth of all these facilities, life becomes unendurable for the society at the whole, but women face the consequences more than men because of cultural roles assign to them.

Nevertheless, even when exposed to actual armed violence is limited, the effects in terms of income, loss of security, and displacement, service access and other such processes are considered. The discriminatory employment practices, limited access to schools and other facilities may have an extreme impact on women and result in a wide range of human rights violations. It is in line with this that this paper sought to study the dimensions of violence facing by women in the conflict situation due to the different armed groups in Shopian District, Jammu and Kashmir. The main objectives of this paper to examine the different dimensions of violence against women by the armed groups and why they are not a complaint against these armed groups in Shopian District of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Consequently, little known about how women in conflict-affected communities experience the effects of armed conflict, or what legal and practical means exist to aid and support them. It has severe consequences for policy and programmatic interventions since effective measures require a full understanding of both the overall situation concerning armed conflict, political struggles and the specific circumstances of women lives. It will help raise awareness of the true extent and violence against women due to armed groups in the conflict situation.

Objectives

 To examine the different dimensions of violence against women in the armed conflict situation  To assess the armed group through which women face violence  To find out the complaint made by affected women

Research Methodology

The methodology explains the statement of the problem, the conceptual model, research design, sampling procedure and the tools of data collection adopted in this research.

Purpose of the Study:

The paper analysed the various dimensions of violence faced by women in the armed conflict situation due to armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir and made recommendations that are meant to protect the so-called weaker sex.

Research Design: In the present study, the descriptive research design was adopted; it enables the analysis of the various dimentions of violence is against women in a conflict situation and how they are affected by violence.

Sample Design:

For selecting the sample, Multi-Stage sampling technique was adopted. The Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir consists of 7 Tehsils (Taluks), among these 7 Tehsils, two were selected, namely; Hermain and Shopian for this study. The Hermain Tehsil consists of 22 villages, from these 22 villages, three villages selected randomly. The Shopian Tehsil is a town that consists of 9 Mohalas (colonies), from these 9 Mohalas, three selected by using simple random sampling. From the selected three villages (Hermain, Haji Pora and Hardu Nagisheran) of Hermain Tehsil, 25 percent married women respondent between the age group 18-40 years were selected. The details of the total population, total women population and married women population in the age group 18-40 years from these three villages were collected from the concerned Panchayats.

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The Shopian Tehsil is a town that consists of 9 Mohalas (Colonies), from these 9 Mohalas, 3 Mohalas, i.e., Batapora, Sheikh Mohala and Tak Mohala selected randomly. From these 3 Mohalas, 25 percent of married female respondents between the age group 18-40 years selected by using simple random sampling technique. The details regarding the total population, total women population and married women population in the age group 18-40 years gathered from the Municipal Corporation.

The details regarding selected Tehsils for this study, its total population, total women population and married women population between the age group 18-40 years and the samples selected are given below:

Tehsil Hermain

Village Total Male Female Women age Selected Per cent Name Population Population Population group from Sample (%) 18-40

Hermain 3780 1850 1930 480 120 25%

Haji Pora 568 269 299 60 15 25%

Hardu 1276 638 638 112 28 25% Nagisheran

Total 5624 2757 2867 652 163 25%

Tehsil Shopian

Mohalas Total Male Female Women age Selected Per cent Name Population Population Population group from Sample (%) 18-40

Batapora 1520 697 813 228 57 25%

Sheikh 1877 944 918 280 70 25% Mohala

Tak 1285 607 673 196 49 25% Mohala

Total 4682 2248 2404 704 176 25%

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Tools and Techniques of Data Collection

The technique of interview schedule was administered on the respondents to carry out the empirical data from the field. Interview schedule was considered as the most appropriate technique because the sample included both educated as well as uneducated respondents. This proved to be highly relevant and accurate. Kashmiri language was being adopted as a formal way to record the responses accurately and properly. Structured interview schedule was developed keeping in mind the broad objectives of the study.

Statistical Tool Used:

Simple Frequency and Mean-Rank method were applied for this study. Sources of Data Collection: The primary data information obtained from 339 maried women respondents through interview schedule and the secondary data gathered through books, journals, articles, government documents, internet etc. Analysis Table: 1. Distribution of respondents by facing Violence and different Dimensions of Violence:

Face of Violence Frequency Per cent Yes 300 88.5 No 39 11.5 Total 339 100.0 Dimensions of Violence Frequency Per cent Eve-Teasing 194 57.2 Forced Physical Contacts (Molestation) 14 4.1 Beaten 37 10.9 Torture 7 2.0 Threaten 258 76.1 Abuse 214 63.1 Humiliate 42 12.3 Sexual exploitation 3 0.8 Sources: Primary Data

Table: 2. Ranking of Dimensions of Violence (Mean-Rank method):

Ways of violence faced by women due to armed conflict Mean Rank Threaten 0.76 1 Abuse 0.63 2

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Eve teasing 0.57 3 Humiliated 0.12 4 Beaten 0.11 5 Forced physical contact (Molestation) 0.04 6 Torture 0.02 7 Sexual exploitation 0.01 8 Note: Since the respondents citing more than one way that violence faced due to armed conflict, the total frequency of the table is above 100%.

The above table 1 shows the number of respondents faced violence through different dimensions; 88.5 per cent of the respondents faced violence due to armed conflict, and 11.5 per cent respondents informed that they have not face any violence due to armed conflict. While stating the ways through which they face violence in different ways. Among them, 76.1 per cent of respondents opines that they faced threaten in the armed conflict, and 63.1 per cent of respondents faced abuse. 57.2 per cent of respondents faced eve-teasing, 12.3 per cent are humiliated, 10.9 per cent of respondents beaten, 4.1 per cent informed forced physical contacts (Molestation) and 2.0 per cent tortured, and 0.8 per cent of respondents stated that they faced sexual exploitation due to the armed conflict.

The Mean-Rank table 2 reveals that among the various dimension through which threaten comes first in the order; abused comes second, eve-teasing comes third, humiliated comes forth, beaten comes fifth and Forced physical contact (Molestation) comes sixth, torture comes seventh, and sexually exploited comes the last type of violence in order.

The above analysis reveals that the majority of respondents (88.5) stated that they face violence due to armed conflict in different ways. Among them, the majority of respondent’s opine that faced threaten due to armed conflict comes first in the order as compared to other dimensions of violence.

Table: 3. Distribution of respondents by source through which they face Violence:

Which one armed group violated you? Frequency Per cent Security forces 206 60.6 Militants 67 19.8 Ex-militants 5 1.5 Unknown gunmen 24 7.1 Have you complaint against them? Frequency Per cent Yes 5 1.5 No 295 87.0 Why you not complaint against them? Frequency Per cent Social ostracism 178 52.5 Fear of children’s future 76 22.3

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Fear of losing life 89 26.2 Fear of losing husbands life 135 39.8 Sources: Primary Data

Table: 4. Violence faced by respondents from armed groups (Mean-Rank method):

Armed Groups Mean Rank Security Forces 0.38 1 Militants 0.20 2 Ex-militants 0.03 4 Unknown gunman 0.7 3

Table: 5. Reasons behind non-complaint by respondents against armed groups (Mean- Rank method):

Respondents do not complain about the Mean Rank harassment Social ostracism 0.53 1 Fear of children’s future 0.22 4 Fear of losing a life 0.26 3 Fear of losing husbands life 0.40 2 Note: Since the respondents citing more than one group of violence and their reasons, the total frequency of the table is exceeding 100%.

The above table 3 shows that the respondents violated by different armed groups; 60.6 per cent respondents opine that they faced violence by security forces, 19.8 per cent of the respondents were faced violence by militants, 7.1 per cent respondents were faced by unknown gunman, and 1.5 per cent of respondents were faced violence by ex-militants in the armed conflict.

The Mean-Rank table 4 reveals that the respondents faced violence by security forces comes first in the order, militants comes second in the order, unknown gunman comes third, and ex-militant comes last in the order according to Mean-Rank method.

The above table 3 shows that 87 per cent of respondents informed that they have not a complaint against them, and only 1.5 per cent violated respondents have a complaint against these armed groups. The table also shows that the different reasons for respondents behind the complaint against these armed groups. Among them, 52.5 per cent of the respondents informed that they were not a complaint against them due to social ostracism. 39.8 per cent of respondents stated that due to the fear of losing husbands life, 26.2 per cent of the respondents opine that due to the fear of losing a life and 22.3 per cent respondents opine that they were not a complaint against these armed groups due to the fear of children’s future.

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The Mean-Rank table 5, reveals that most of the respondents have not any complaint against these armed groups due to some reasons behind this; social ostracism comes as first in the order. They have a fear of losing husbands life comes second, fear of losing life comes third, and fear of children’s life comes as last in the order according to the Mean-Rank method.

Finally the analysis reveals that the respondents faced violence by different armed groups in the armed conflict situation, and due to some reasons they have not a complaint against these groups; most of the respondents were faced violence by the security forces and also shows that the maximum number of respondents has no complaint against them due to social ostracism.

Findings

The following are the summary of findings of the empirical data collected from the respondents and analysed by using statistical tools. 1. As per the analysis, data reveals that 88.5 per cent respondent have faced violence due to the armed conflict. 2. Majority of the have faced violence in the form of; threaten, abuse, eve-teasing are at the top in the hierarchy according to Mean Rank Method. 3. The result also shows that the respondents were faced violence by different armed groups, among them; 60.6 per cent respondents were faced by security forces. 4. The above data presents that 87 per cent of respondents have not a complaint against the armed groups due to some reasons behind this. 5. Majority of the respondents (52.5) per cent respondents have fear of social ostracism otherwise they can complain against them.

Conclusion

The most vulnerable and worst-hit section of the society, especially under situations of violence caused by militancy and armed conflict. As per primary data; The result shows that women are facing a threat, abusing, eve-teasing, beating, torture and humiliation, etc. in the armed conflict. Most of the respondents are facing threats and abuse in the conflict situation. The analysis shows that women were faced violence by different armed groups especially by security forces after that they cannot make a complaint against them due to some reasons; like social ostracism, fear about their children future and also many other reasons.

To sum up that women are facing violation directly and indirectly in the armed conflict situation. In this regard, it is essential to rework existing laws and practices that may provide immunity to persons who commit violations, to enable effective investigation and prosecution in cases with clear evidence of sexual violence. Such accountability is necessary for the dignity of the victims of these crimes and to ensure there is a deterrent against future violations.

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References

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