South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

Srinagar, May 30, 2019:  Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar, husband of Neelofar and brother of Aasiya of Shopian, has said that he has now completely lost faith in all institutions of India and the Jammu and Kashmir and demanded a probe by an independent international agency into the Shopian incident  but the unrelenting struggle for justice by Shakeel Ahmed Ahangar continues.
On May 29, 2009, Indian forces abducted Aasiya and Neelofar from their orchard, raped and murdered them before throwing their bodies in a shallow stream. 
Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar in a media interview said, “I have nothing new to add to my poignant tale that I have already recounted umpteen times.” The justice delivery system in this part of world stands frozen, he said gesturing towards a banner that carries the images of his sister and wife.
He said, “I have been waiting for justice for last 10 years. We observed a shutdown for nearly two months, held peaceful protests but to no avail.” He added that all investigations taken up by authorities were a smokescreen used to shield the perpetrators. He, however, said that he would never succumb to any pressure. “I am relentless in my pursuit for justice, come what may,” Ahangar said.
On May 29, 2009, Aasiya, who was just 17 and Nelofar (22) had gone to their small orchard across the ankle deep Ranbir Ara stream in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. When they did not return home, the family members went out frantically searching the area before finally reporting to police. The next morning, lifeless bodies of the sisters-in-law, their clothes tattered, were found on the banks of Rambir Ara nullah, not far from a camp of Indian forces. The family and locals said that the two women were raped and murdered by the forces’ personnel.
The incident triggered widespread protests across Kashmir. The Kashmir valley convulsed with outrage and shut in protest for 16 days. Shopian town had observed an unprecedented 47-day shutdown demanding justice for the young women. Nine years later justice still continues to elude the family and Shakeel Ahngar has lost faith in the Indian institutions demanding justice from independent international forums.
“I have no faith in Indian institutions. Be it judiciary or any investigating agency they are all biased and subservient to the government. They do what the government of the day wants them to do,” Ahangar said. He said that the ex-puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, had played politics on the issue. He said that during the so-called Assembly elections in 2014, she made “justice for Aasiya and Neelofar” a main poll plank in the entire south Kashmir and promised she would bring the culprits to book if voted to power. “She forgot everything as soon as she came to power. She has failed to redeem her election pledge,” said Ahangar.
Ahangar’s son Susan, now twelve years was just two when the tragedy struck. Now he is fully aware about what had happened on that fateful day. “Now, he knows everything about his mother, but he does not say anything. He talks very less and prefers to stay alone,” said Ahangar, adding that his teachers always complain Susan does not mingle with other kids in the school.
“It is not only the story of Susan, hundreds of such children are going through the same psychological trauma in Kashmir Valley,” Ahangar said.
It is not only Asiya and Neelofar but there are hundreds of other Kashmiri women who underwent the same sort of oppression like the victims of Kunan-Poshpora and half widows, who have lost their husband and mothers who have lost their sons through enforced disappearances.