“Team KYC”: The vigilante force sweeping through controversy in the humanitarian landscape of Kashmir

Report Sahil Bhat

Srinagar, Aug 27 (KB): Claiming the role of a volunteer force set to “clean up” and take care of neglected people, the Kashmir Youth Courage (KYC) group has found itself in hot water for its controversial and potentially harmful techniques. The acts of forcefully grooming and ‘cleaning up’ vulnerable people have created extensive debates regarding the legality and ethical undertakings of this group’s activities.

Importantly, there are questions about the motivation and modus operandi of KYC. The group often video records their interventions and posts them on social media. This has raised speculation if publicity is, after all, one of their motives. In recent days, KYC started seeking donations to build rehabilitation centers. This cannot be authenticated as valid and legitimate since they are not authorised, nor do they show any formal credentials.

KYC forces its way through to cut people’s hair, clean them up, and dress them in the event their staff finds them on the streets. While this may sound like a nice thing to do, there are some serious legal and ethical issues associated with such practices.

A research conducted by the news agency—Kashmir Bulletin (KB), states that Section 351 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, defines ‘assault’ as an offense involving physical interference without consent. This is relevant to KYC’s practices, as their actions of forcibly grooming and cleaning individuals could be seen as a form of physical interference that lacks consent. The Mental Health Care Act 2017 further emphasizes the necessity of consent and dignity in treating mentally ill persons, which KYC’s actions appear to violate.

“Their processes are not subjected to any scrutiny by professionally qualified individuals. KYC operates without legal mandate or professional expertise in mental health care, law enforcement, or social work, further underscoring the illegality of their actions,” the research said. And this extra-judicial exercise of authority over people’s lives exemplifies vigilantism rather than humanitarianism.

Legal and Professional Oversight

Critics further claim that KYC’s acts are not only misdirected but actually dangerous. While the fact that KYC operates outside the legal and professional mechanisms ensures that they are indeed often doing more harm than good, especially for people suffering from poor mental health, lawyers emphasize that such cases shall be dealt with only by qualified professionals within the existing legal frameworks. KYC does not adhere to any of those safeguards and thus they pose a serious threat to the rights and well-being of people they try to assist.

Call for Accountability

KYC’s activities symbolize a disturbing form of vigilantism in a wrapper of community service. While their intentions may be highly noble, the methods are illegal, unethical, and do potential harm rather than help.

It is now important that the authorities must take action to ensure that these vulnerable individuals are given the support they need through proper means. If that were not done, KYC would continue to violate individual rights and jeopardize public safety as an ominous warning to every well-intentioned undertaking that strives for respect for the rule of law and the dignity of every person.

Questionable Backgrounds of Key Members

Musadiq Bashir is one of the leading members of KYC, and he has a shady background. Prior to joining KYC, he used to run a YouTube channel which consisted of technical videos. His previously uploaded videos include adding a signature to a domicile, a Srinagar boat incident with downloaded ransom videos. One question remains in every person’s mind: What role does he play in KYC?

Other volunteers include Yawar Rashid, Muhammad Tajamul, Sabzar Bhat, and Faizan Bashir among others, detailed information about whom is under the process of research and will be soon brought to light. — (KB)