Unjust Incarceration and Human Rights Violations in IIOJK: A Plea for Global Attention

The illegally detained Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Masarrat Aalam Butt, has expressed profound concern over the political injustice and egregious human rights violations perpetrated by Indian troops in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Hailing from the confines of Tihar jail in New Delhi, Butt contends that the Modi regime has unleashed a reign of terror against the Kashmiri people, who find themselves continuously besieged by over a million Indian army, paramilitary forces, and intelligence agencies personnel.

Butt decries the imposition of draconian laws and the provision of unwavering support to the armed forces, stifling any form of political dissent in the region. He accuses Indian troops of blatantly violating fundamental human rights principles within the occupied territory. Cordon and search operations, house raids, and arbitrary summoning of Kashmiris to police stations without cause are cited as common oppressive tactics employed by the Indian armed forces. Butt emphasizes that the region has been transformed into the world’s largest militarized zone, with arbitrary arrests and torture becoming a distressing norm.

One of Butt’s focal points is the Hinduva Indian government’s alleged nefarious design to alter the demographic landscape of the occupied territory. He highlights that even non-Muslim communities residing in Jammu and Ladakh regions have recognized the adverse effects of the influx of non-state subjects, who have been granted domicile certificates. This influx, according to Butt, not only impacts employment and business opportunities for the local population but also poses a threat to the region’s social and cultural fabric.

Despite the challenges, Butt applauds the resilience and determination of the Kashmiri people in thwarting the designs of the Hindutva regime. He commends their steadfastness against political injustice and the anti-Kashmir policies of the BJP/RSS regime. Butt urges global human rights bodies to take notice of the deteriorating situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and calls for accountability on the part of the Indian government.

In a plea directed at the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, Butt appeals for the resolution of the long-standing Kashmir dispute in alignment with the resolutions laid out by the international body since 1948. He seeks the intervention of global entities to address the escalating human rights crisis in the region and bring an end to the suffering of the Kashmiri people. Butt’s message is a poignant call for international attention, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the pressing issues in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.