Residents displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) staged protests in Jammu on Saturday, condemning the recent killings of civilians across the border and calling on the Indian government to bring Pakistan’s actions to the attention of the international community. The demonstrators, comprising members of the BJP PoJK Refugee Cell and activists from SOS International, an organization representing PoK displaced people, voiced strong opposition to what they described as repression in PoK and demanded immediate measures to protect civilian lives.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that over twenty individuals were reportedly killed and many others injured in actions by security forces in PoK. These events followed protests against a recent ban imposed on the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Action Committee. This committee had been advocating for subsidized electricity and flour, alongside the restoration of political and economic rights for the local populace in PoK. The BJP activists, led by Surinder Singh Gilli, gathered at the Jammu Press Club and proceeded to the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi bridge, where they chanted slogans critical of Pakistan.
During the protest, Gilli asserted, “Pakistan must stop the oppression of the people of PoK who are on the road in support of their demands for basic rights and amenities, but their peaceful protests are being met with bullets.” He further appealed for intervention from the United Nations and international human rights organizations. “We also appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah to expose Pakistan’s actions before the international community,” Gilli stated, emphasizing the solidarity of the PoK refugees with those across the border. “The people of PoK are Indians and we stand firmly with them. We are prepared to make every sacrifice in support of our brothers and sisters there,” he added.
In a separate demonstration at Bakshi Nagar, SOS International chairman Rajiv Chuni also addressed the situation. Referencing the unanimous resolution passed by the Indian Parliament that declares PoK an integral part of India, Chuni highlighted this as an opportune moment to uphold that stance. “India should step in to protect the lives and property of people facing repression and violence. Innocent civilians are reportedly being targeted, and the international community should take note of these developments,” Chuni told reporters, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
The history of displacement from the region dates back to conflicts in 1947, 1965, and 1971, when a significant number of people crossed the Line of Control from PoK and became known as PoK Displaced Persons. Adding to the calls for action, BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal has penned a letter to Prime Minister Modi. In his communication, Sirwal urged the Prime Minister to initiate more robust political, diplomatic, and humanitarian efforts to support the residents of PoK. Sirwal conveyed that while India has consistently maintained its principled position on PoK, the current circumstances necessitate a more visible and proactive approach to address the concerns of the people living across the Line of Control.
Sirwal further articulated in his letter to Prime Minister Modi, “Our commitment towards them cannot remain confined to statements, resolutions or symbolic measures. The time has come to demonstrate through concrete action that India stands firmly with those whom we have always regarded as our own.” This sentiment reflects a broader call from the PoK refugee community and their supporters in Jammu for tangible Indian engagement in addressing the human rights situation in the region.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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