SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Violence against women is a serious problem in India as overall, one-third of women, of age-group 15-49 years, have experienced physical violence and about 1 in 10 have experienced sexual violence. In total, 35 per cent women have experienced physical or sexual violence. After abrogation of Article 370, Jammu & Kashmir has lost many commissions including Women Commission, which was one of the most important commissions. Due to absence Women Commission, domestic violence against women in Kashmir was on rise. In 2021, especially in rural areas of Kashmir, many incidents of violence against women were reported, in which many young women were tortured by in-laws and ultimately lost their lives. It is unfortunate the real cause of the death was always concealed by in-laws.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by the Union Ministry of Health has made shocking exposures about domestic violence against women in Jammu & Kashmir. The survey report, released in 2020, stated that 9.6 per cent of women in age group 18-49 years experienced domestic violence in 2019-20. Last month, a family from Shelipora village of Achabal, Anantnag alleged their daughter was killed by her in-laws on demand of dowry. The family alleged their daughter was being regularly tortured by her in-laws for last couple of months for dowry. Though, the family members of the deceased demanded strict action against accused, the In-laws have denied allegations. Last year, a 32-year-old woman ended her life at her in-laws’ house in Anantnag. In a video recorded before her death, the woman accused her in-laws of assaulting her and setting her ablaze. A 28-year-old, mother of two kids was set afire allegedly by her in-laws in same district. She received 80 per cent burns and is still battling for life in a hospital.
In the same year, another 27-year-old woman from Bandipora district, was found dead at her in-laws’ house in mysterious conditions. Later police arrested three members of her in-laws’ family. These are not isolated cases, but violence against women has seen a sharp rise in recent years. The increase in cases of rape, abduction, molestation and domestic violence has become a cause of concern among civil society members and women. According to women’s rights activists, silence by the society on such brutal atrocities will only cause increase in violence.