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'What was our fault?': India razes homes, sparking anger and despair in Kashmir (www.middleeasteye.net)
submitted 2 months ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/india@lemmy.ml
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India has demolished at least ten homes over the last week belonging to suspected rebels in the region after 26 people were killed in an attack in Pahalgam, Indian-controlled Kashmir, in April.

The ongoing demolitions have sparked anger with locals, who call the punishment an "Israeli tactic".

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a meeting with the military’s top brass in New Delhi, gave India's armed forces "complete operational freedom."

"It was dark when the Indian armed forces cordoned off the village in large numbers and directed us to leave our houses," Ashiq Ahmad, a villager, told MEE.

"After some time, the earth beneath our feet shook," Ashiq said, describing the explosion they heard from a mosque some distance away, where locals had been forcibly held for hours.

"When we came out after two hours, we found many houses destroyed and razed to the ground," he said. "We were mourning the whole night."

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[–] mukt@lemmy.ml -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This tactic is famous as "bulldozer justice" and it is not from Israel, but from Yogi Adityanath's UP. The basic principle at work is roughly this : if an crime accused goes missing, and his/her property is illegal/unregistered, demolish that illegal property, in part or in whole, and continue searching for him/her.

An interesting corollary is that if the local authorities have erred in claiming the property is illegal/improper, they'd can be sued and Indian judiciary will ensure compensation.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The tactic is famous for being Israeli as Israelis designate anything as a "terrorist target" and destroy it without due process.

Without knowing the specifics of Indian law I assume that their "compensation" works similar to in Israel. On paper only.

[–] nargis@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

There is no such provision in Indian law, and there is no such punishment either. People are supposed to be given a trial and jailed. This is something 'Adityanath' invented out of the thin air. It has no constitutional basis.

[–] mukt@lemmy.ml -5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

The tactic is famous for being Israeli as Israelis designate anything as a "terrorist target" and destroy it without due process.

That hasn't happened here. What has happened here appears consistent with "bulldozer justice" which is usually applied on absconding accused of sexual crimes/murder in UP.

Targets are chosen with surgical precision. Neighbours' property isn't typically affected.

Without knowing the specifics of Indian law I assume that their "compensation" works similar to in Israel. On paper only.

Why do you want to assume so, without "knowing the specifics" ?

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

"Chosen with precision" is what Israelis say as well. In fact they literally say everything you say about "court of law"

Fact is the Indian government just exploded a bunch if buildings without due process and is inflicting group punishment on families instead of whatever perpetrator they have in mind.

The article I am reading does not match what you describe as the law. Neither are these methods anything resembling surgical.

[–] nargis@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I may not agree with many things you say but you're absolutely right in this case. Although this 'bulldozer justice' is not specific to Kashmir or even Muslims, (though they were disproportionately targeted) it is illegal. The SC ruled it was, but in BJP ruled states, this ruling was useless and they went ahead and did it anyway. One guy who was accused of cheering for Pakistan in Maharashtra watched his house get bulldozed with no proof or eyewitness. There was literally a video of people standing outside their houses with all required documents, and the entire lane was bulldozed. There were 700 farmers in Gujarat whose houses were bulldozed and their names were deleted from the voter list, so they couldn't vote. It happens every week, and it is always poor people's houses, in large parts of the country (not every state). There is generally no warrant, no notice, no warning, no FIR, absolutely nothing. The victims are usually poor people, Muslims and Hindus. Your house could get razed even for crimes as minor as offending some minister, or being an activist. In fact, bulldozing for murder or sexual assault is rare, it generally goes unpunished because India is a patriarchal, religious society.

[–] mukt@lemmy.ml -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Fact is the Indian government just exploded a bunch if buildings without due process and is inflicting group punishment on families instead of whatever perpetrator they have in mind.

Facts

  • 10 buildings belonging to different absconders at different locations is not a bunch of buildings but 10 different controlled demolitions, and there is almost a decade of precedant from a different state of India - a state which is larger than Germany and France combined.
  • the suspects are wanted by the law. The one person interviewed for the article has her father absconding since 2 years and the "due process" needs his presence to run its course. He is one running from due process, not the authorities.
  • There is no "group punishment" to kashmiris - the neighbours are unaffected.

The person who wrote this article has lead readers on with sloppy language, and trying hard to make things look like something else from elsewhere. It seems to be working on some, judging by your reaction.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

When we came out after two hours, we found many houses destroyed and razed to the ground," he said. "We were mourning the whole night."

It was not only the home of the suspected rebel that was damaged, but 14 other houses in the neighbourhood faced significant damage.

"This house was built after I put together my blood and sweat, but now it's gone," Ali Muhammad told MEE, adding that his son's wedding was in ten days.

"We just happened to be neighbours. They claim (forces) that our neighbours were at fault because of their son. But what was our fault and who will question them?" he said on the verge of tears.

They blew up a house with explosives and hit many buildings in the neighbourhood to punish the family of a person who is not home and does not even own the home.

This is basically the definition of terrorism

[–] mukt@lemmy.ml -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

When we came out after two hours, we found many houses destroyed and razed to the ground," he said. "We were mourning the whole night."

It was not only the home of the suspected rebel that was damaged, but 14 other houses in the neighbourhood faced significant damage.

"This house was built after I put together my blood and sweat, but now it's gone," Ali Muhammad told MEE, adding that his son's wedding was in ten days.

"We just happened to be neighbours. They claim (forces) that our neighbours were at fault because of their son. But what was our fault and who will question them?" he said on the verge of tears.

They blew up a house with explosives and hit many buildings in the neighbourhood to punish the family of a person who is not home and does not even own the home.

This is basically the definition of terrorism

Have the Indian authorities also confiscated all pics of these damaged houses and allowed the publication (Middle East Eye) to publish only the pics where just one house appears affected, and no evidence of explosives can be seen?

What is the reason damage to houses of these "neighbours" can't be seen, but just claimed? Marketing?

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yes all baseless lies. Apparently the Indian government is so lawful they got sued for doing this and lost already.

Junaid is referring to a November 2024 ruling from India's Supreme Court that bans what had popularly become known as "bulldozer justice", where judges declared that authorities cannot demolish homes based on an accusation of a crime.

More than 74 miles away, in the frontier border town of Kupwara, Muhammad Yaqoob Teedwa is in shock. He has little hope of justice. A resident of Kalroosa village, his brother Farooq Teedwa left for Pakistan in the 1990s for armed training. His home was also demolished by the armed forces.

"He left 30 years ago. Why is the government punishing us now? I am a poor labourer, what was the fault of my children who have been left roofless," he asks.

[–] mukt@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 months ago

Mr. Juniad is giving a selective picture, which seems to be the theme of your citation, and argumentation.

The demolitions are NOT just on basis of crime allegations. They are demolishing properties which are already illegal under Indian law, and ALSO belong to accused of heinous crimes, like terrorism, in present case.

Supreme court has not banned that.