Web Desk: United Nations human rights experts have raised alarm over what they describe as escalating abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir, urging New Delhi to uphold international law despite ongoing security concerns. The latest warning follows the Pahalgam attack, after which experts say authorities intensified actions that violate basic rights.
Experts Cite Arbitrary Arrests and Excessive Force
According to the UN experts, Indian authorities have carried out widespread arrests and detentions across Jammu and Kashmir, targeting journalists, human rights defenders and community members. They estimate that nearly 2,800 people have been detained as part of these operations.
The experts said they were “deeply concerned” about reported cases of arbitrary detentions, suspected extrajudicial killings, torture, and discriminatory treatment of Kashmiri civilians and India’s Muslim population. They urged India to stop measures that infringe on civil liberties and to ensure that security operations comply with international human rights standards.
Restrictions on Media and Communication Spark Fresh Alarm
The UN also criticized recurring communication blackouts and restrictions on press freedom in the region. Such measures, they noted, undermine transparency and limit the ability of journalists to report independently on events on the ground.
Forced Evictions and Deportations Called Illegal
In a further rebuke, the experts denounced reported demolitions, harassment of Muslim communities, and the unlawful deportation of about 1,900 people, calling these actions clear violations of international norms. Moreover, they added that several human rights defenders have been held for years under India’s stringent security laws without adequate justification.
The experts warned that India’s counterterrorism framework is being applied in ways that conflict with constitutional protections and fuel social division and unrest.
Broader Implications for the Region
Their statement reflects growing international unease over the situation in the Kashmir valley, where residents and rights groups have long accused Indian forces of excessive force, surveillance and suppression of political expression.
As India faces rising global scrutiny, Kashmir’s political activists say their struggle against state repression will continue until they achieve justice and freedom.
