Webdesk: A 70-year-old tourist from Maharashtra was raped in a hotel room in Pahalgam, with the case of a tourist raped in IIOJK once again raising serious concerns over women’s safety, especially under India’s heavy military presence, which it claims is meant for security.
In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), women remain vulnerable despite the deployment of 700,000 Indian troops.
Reports following the revocation of Article 370 point to growing insecurity among locals and tourists, especially women.
Human rights groups have raised alarm over harassment at checkpoints, forced surveillance, and the restriction of free movement.
According to Indian media outlets, a 70-year-old tourist from Maharashtra was raped in her hotel room, just days after the false flag operation.
The assault has sparked questions over the safety of female tourists in the region and further damaged the image of Pahalgam as a peaceful tourist destination.
International human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have expressed concern over the growing restrictions on women’s freedom of movement in Kashmir.
They warn that the environment has become more hostile, especially for female travellers.
Critics of the BJP government say Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule has made India the most dangerous country in the world for women.
This has resulted in the making sexual violence a common everyday event and the justice system is slow and inefficient.
The state has been viewed as a mere spectator when compared to a protector of the rights of women.
Through the advisory released to its female citizens travelling to India, the US declares that women in the country are facing increased cases of crimes against them, and they should consider travelling to the country in a group.
This comes after another shocking case in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where a French tourist was raped by a company employee on June 22.
Indian opposition leader Ashok Gehlot strongly condemned the attack, calling it a major blow to India’s global reputation.
A report by Al Jazeera stated that from 2018 to 2025, India recorded between 30,000 to 34,000 rape cases every year.
On average, one rape is reported every 15 minutes. CNN also reported that in 2022 alone, only 18,517 out of 198,285 pending rape cases were resolved, with over 90 per cent still awaiting action.
The violent beating of the older tourist in Kashmir has proved to be symbolic of the crisis lying in the heart of the safety of women in the current leadership of India.
Observers believe that the hard-line policies and military reign of the BJP in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have resulted in repression rather than ‘protection’ that has led to crimes that have shown a broader ideological system.
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