Criticism mounts against Modi’s government for alleged mistreatment of Kashmiri prisoners

In recent developments, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has strongly criticized the Hindutva-led Indian government, accusing it of unjustly prolonging the illegal detention of Hurriyat leaders and activists in various jails. The APHC spokesperson, in a statement from Srinagar, expressed deep concern over the treatment of Kashmiri political prisoners, describing it as unparalleled in human history.

According to the spokesman, numerous elderly leaders and activists among the detainees suffer from multiple health issues, yet they are reportedly denied essential medical care. The statement specifically highlighted the resilience of prominent figures such as APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, and thousands of others held in Indian jails. Their so-called ‘crime’ is demanding the right to self-determination, as promised by the United Nations Security Council.

The spokesperson underscored the grim reality faced by the Kashmiri people living under the Indian establishment, characterizing life in the region as a nightmare. The statement accused India of enforcing militarized governance through a system of impunity laws, utilizing agencies like the NIA, ED, and SIA to suppress the genuine demand of Kashmiris for the right to self-determination.

Expressing serious concern over continued cordon and search operations and house raids, the APHC representative argued that India has systematically stripped Kashmiris of every right, including the right to live. The puppet Hindutva regime, it claimed, is ruthlessly suppressing dissenting voices in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) with brute force.

The situation has worsened with the appointment of RR Swain, an individual with reportedly anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim agendas, as the territory’s police chief. The spokesperson asserted that Swain’s leadership reflects a Hindutva mindset, adding to the fears and anxieties of the Kashmiri people. The APHC appealed to international bodies, including the United Nations Council for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Asia Watch, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to intervene. The organization urged these entities to pressure India into allowing on-the-spot inspections of the conditions endured by the illegally detained Hurriyat leaders and activists. The plea seeks to bring attention to the human rights crisis unfolding in the region and to hold the Indian government accountable for its actions in Kashmir.