After Pahalgam terror attack: Demolitions Defying SC Ruling, Student Harassment and Rape Threats to Hijabi Kashmiri Muslims — All Raises Fear of Collective Punishment.

In the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack, authorities have demolished seven homes of suspected militants in South Kashmir, who are allegedly involved in the attack. The demolitions defied the Supreme Court ruling against such actions without due process. Additionally, Kashmiri students face harassment across India, while online threats of sexual violence against hijabi Kashmiri women have amplified fear and discrimination. This has sparked concerns of collective punishment and human rights violation against particular communities.

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, authorities blew up at least 7 houses of suspected militants over the past two days, in various areas of South Kashmir. Authorities claimed that all the houses belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba members, some of whom are alleged to be involved in the Pahalgam attack; Pakistan has rejected these allegations. As of now, the residential houses of the seven families have been demolished in Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, and Anantnag districts of South Kashmir within 48 hours on Thursday (April 24) and Friday (April 25).

These demolitions were carried out despite the Supreme Court’s recent ruling denouncing the demolition of suspects' residential houses without issuing show-cause notices to their owners. The Supreme Court held that the right to shelter is a fundamental right as part of the Constitution's basic structure. While the authorities have not issued an official statement, the media received the information informally.

Yasmeena, the sister of one of the suspected militants, told The Wire, “Even if my brother was involved in the Pahalgam attack, what has our family got to do with it? Why are our parents being punished for no fault of theirs?” Her remarks reflect the growing unease over the government’s approach, as the demolition of homes belonging to suspects’ families, without due process, raises serious concerns about collective punishment. This practice stands in stark contrast to constitutional principles and international human rights norms.

This general trend of collective punishment, where individuals or families are penalized not for their own actions but for their perceived association with suspects, has sparked widespread concern among legal experts and Human rights activists. The demolition has impacted several adjoining houses as well, which according to locals are unsafe for residing. Such actions violate not only domestic legal safeguards but also international humanitarian norms, which prohibit punishing individuals for crimes they did not commit.

This troubling trend is not limited to demolitions. In the aftermath of the attack, students from Kashmir have faced harassment, violence, and academic reprisals across various parts of India. In numerous cases, Kashmiri students have been evicted from hostels and assaulted both on and off campuses across India. These actions add to the larger climate of intimidation and guilt by association, where a communal identity becomes a basis for suspicion.

Meanwhile, in the last 48 hours, Hindutva handles have been seen openly calling for sexual violence and rape against Kashmiri Muslim women, intensifying the hate amid the surge of violence against Kashmiris. These threats began with a seemingly supportive message from an internet user, Ben Dover, offering shelter to distressed Kashmiri girls in Delhi. This abruptly took a dark turn when he tweeted, “But I can’t guarantee if she will be alive after spending a night with me” and while especially targeting Hijabi Kashmiri Muslim girls, he declared, “Hijabis are my priority”. What sends chills down one's spine is the fact that the post was liked by 4,400 users, highlighting how such violent rhetoric is being normalized.

All these circumstances, from home demolitions and student harassment to rape threats directed at hijabi Kashmiri women, point towards a growing fear among Kashmiris of being subjected to collective punishment, where entire communities are made to suffer for the alleged actions of a few, often without evidence or due process.

Sharmeen Shah is a student pursuing Psychology Honours at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Edited by: Inaaya Haque