Militarization and Youth Exploitation: Forced Crime and Trafficking in Malik Sajad’s Munnu: A Boy from Kashmir

Abstract

Grounded in Johan Galtung’s Theory of Structural Violence, this paper focuses on systemic oppression and militarized control in politically volatile regions, with particular emphasis on Kashmir. Through a close reading of Malik Sajad’s graphic novel Munnu: A Boy from Kashmir, it examines how societal-structures contribute to trafficking, especially exploitation of youth. The graphic novel, portraying the Kashmiri people as endangered hanguls, provides an intensely personal narrative that reflects the broader socio-political challenges faced by the region. By examining the recruitment of vulnerable young boys into insurgent groups and their coercion into criminal activities, this study highlights how conditions of poverty, lack of education, and constant surveillance create an environment that mirrors the exploitative dynamics of human trafficking. The research situates these experiences within the framework of structural violence, drawing attention to the manipulation and psychological toll inflicted on individuals forced into insurgent activities. It emphasizes the need for community-based interventions, including education and rehabilitation programs, as preventive measures against trafficking.