Independent Report
Islamabad, 18 November — A shocking self-immolation attempt by a father in Kulgam has once again exposed the intense psychological trauma and systemic oppression faced by families in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The victim, Bilal Ahmad Wani, set himself on fire after the alleged illegal arrest and disappearance of his two sons — Jasir Bilal and Nawail Bilal — who were taken into custody without charges, explanation, or access to family.
According to APHC leader Mushtaq Ahmad Butt, the incident is not an isolated tragedy but a reflection of “the collective pain of an entire oppressed nation.”
He said Wani visited multiple police stations, pleaded with officers and officials, and knocked on every possible door — yet received silence, humiliation, and complete denial of information regarding his sons’ whereabouts.
“With every passing day, his hope faded. When a father is left with no answers, helpless and powerless, life becomes a prison from which escape seems the only relief,” Butt said.
Bilal Wani suffered severe burns and is currently in critical condition at SMHS Hospital Srinagar.
According to APHC, this tragedy mirrors the stories of thousands of Kashmiri families facing enforced disappearances, illegal detentions, and state repression, where courts are inaccessible, police unaccountable, and human rights groups silenced.
Mushtaq Ahmad Butt said the world must recognize that Kashmir is not merely a political dispute but a grave humanitarian crisis. Ignoring such incidents, he warned, could push the region toward an even greater catastrophe.
