Half Widows from Kashmir!
We came across this term ‘half widows' from Kashmir. What does it mean? And who are the half widows of Kashmir? More in this report by Ali Khalaf and Saleha Farouq Narrator: Kashmiris have been struggling for freedom for more than 100 years. They want India and the UN to deliver on their promise for Kashmiris to vote on the future of Kashmir. India, however, has not only backed down on its promise but has placed one million armed soldiers in Kashmir. These Indian soldiers are free to kidnap, detain and kill as they please These Indian soldiers have impunity While more than 100,000 Kashmiris have died at their hands no military officer has ever been punished. This is where Kashmiri women looking for their husband have coined themselves the term "half widow" They have an association. They demonstrated and petition the government. They are looking for their husbands. There are several thousands disappeared Kashmiris. However, at least 300 women are involved in this organized "half Widows:" movement. They are half widows since their husbands are missing but not declared deceased. Indian military does not inform relatives about the kidnapping or detention of a Kashmiri. It rarely publishes a list of the deceased. These half widows are uncertain whether their husbands are dead or alive They suffer from economic hardship. They suffer psychological trauma. They don't want to remarry hoping that their husbands are alive and one day be released by the Indian military. It is however also possible that their husbands might be in one of the mass graves found in Indian-held Kashmir. Half widows call themselves the resident of Dardpora It means “The Pain Town." A pain town for the half widows of Kashmir.