Jammu Kashmir Bank adopted Kunan Poshpora village

In a significant move, Jammu and Kashmir Bank Friday decided to adopt two villages including Kunan Posh in border district of Kupwara.
While speaking at a function after inauguration of J&K Bank’s Currency Chest Complex in Kupwara, J&K Bank Chairman and CEO Parvez Ahmed listed bank’s plan for the Kupwara district for next three years.
He announced bank’s plan to adopt far flung villages to transform the lives through sustained economic development by exploring the respective local economies through skill development programmes and other relevant interventions.
“We want to bring the backward and marginalized sections of society within the formal banking system and develop certain avenues whereby we see them earning their livelihood” he said.
Parvez announced adoption of twin villages of Kunan-Poshpora and Nagsari-Kalaroos in border district of Kupwara.
“Unfortunately, these villages are known for their downtrodden economic status. We shall be focusing on youth in these villages and help them to develop skills as per the local economic needs. This youth force shall be channelized by us through financial empowerment and handholding to bring prosperity to their families and ultimately to their villages,” he said.
About 100 women were gang raped allegedly by troops of 4th Rajputana Rifles on night of February 23, 1991 after troops cordoned the twin villages of Kunan and Poshpora in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, according to human rights groups.
At the time of the incident, the age of the victims of the mass rape ranged between 13 and 80 with some of them having passed away now.
The memories of the mass rape are traumatic experiences for the women with which they have to live ever. The women not only have to battle physical injuries, psychiatric ailments and mental agony but also social stigma.
On April 7, 1991, the New York Times had reported about the Kunan Poshpora mass rape incident and after much furor in the press, Army initiated an investigation of Press Council of India (PCI) committee led by B G Vergese and Vikram Rao who had visited the Valley after the incident and given a clean chit to the “rapist troopers”.
SHRC recommended the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), monetary compensation of Rs 2 lakh to victims and prosecution of the head prosecutor who had ordered the case closed.
However, to this day, no one has been prosecuted in the case while the victims face sociological problems like getting their girls married off, sending their boys to schools, social stigma and psychological stress.