United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the death of childrens in Jammu and Kashmir and urged the Indian government to take preventive measures to protect them. He voiced deep concern over the continued use of pellet guns against children by Indian security forces in occupied Kashmir and called New Delhi to immediately end such practices.
The Secretary-General also took note of the Naxalite insurgency and said that efforts by the Indian government have resulted in a decline in the recruitment, killing and maiming of children. In a report titled Children and Armed Conflict, Guterres said the United Nations had verified over 25,000 grave violations against children globally from January to December 2019. With respect to atrocities committed against children in Kashmir, the report said that “The United Nations verified the killing (8) and maiming (7) of 15 children (13 boys, 2 girls), between the ages of 1 and 17, by or during joint operations of the Central Reserve Police Force, the Indian Army (Rashtriya Rifles) and the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police”.
The UN also verified attacks on nine schools in Jammu and Kashmir by unidentified elements. Guterres noted in the report that in Jharkhand, approximately 10 children were reportedly rescued by Indian police from Naxalite insurgency groups, who allegedly abducted them or used them in support or combat capacities. “I am concerned by the detention of children, including their arrest during night raids, internment at army camps, torture in detention and detention without charge or due process, and urge the government to immediately end this practice. I note that the Government conducted age verification for some detainees and urged for its systematisation”, said Guterres.
The report quotes Guterres saying “I note the decline, as a result of government efforts, in the number of reports of child recruitment and of the killing and maiming of children relating to the Naxalite insurgency.” He also expressed concern over children’s access to education and health services in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. “I am concerned by attacks on schools, yet I am encouraged that the Government has commenced legal proceedings against the perpetrators,” he said.
