NIA Court Declares Hurriyat Leader a ‘Proclaimed Offender’ in Political Vendetta Case

In yet another move widely condemned as politically motivated, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared exiled Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Butt a “proclaimed offender,” fueling concerns over the continued criminalization of Kashmiri pro-freedom voices.

Srinagar – A special court under India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared prominent Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Butt a proclaimed offender, escalating the Indian government’s legal campaign against pro-freedom leaders based outside of Indian-administered territory.

According to reports, the court’s decision was issued in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), following Butt’s non-appearance in response to multiple cases filed against him by the NIA in Srinagar. The court has also ordered Indian law enforcement to arrest him wherever he is found and produce him in court.

Altaf Ahmed Butt, who is currently residing in Pakistan, has been vocal in his international advocacy for Kashmir’s right to self-determination. He is affiliated with the Hurriyat Conference, a coalition of political, social, and religious groups seeking an end to Indian occupation in IIOJK.

Human rights observers and political analysts have denounced the move as part of a broader pattern of legal harassment and judicial intimidation aimed at discrediting and silencing Kashmiri leaders, particularly those who raise the issue on global platforms.

Legal experts argue that the NIA—an agency known for its aggressive pursuit of terrorism-related cases—has weaponized India’s legal system to target dissent, especially those advocating for Kashmir’s freedom through peaceful and political means.

While Indian authorities accuse Butt of promoting “anti-national activities” from abroad, supporters say the charges are fabricated and politically driven. “This is a continuation of India’s crackdown on all Kashmiri voices that challenge its occupation,” a Hurriyat spokesperson commented, reacting to the court order.

The proclaimed offender status allows Indian authorities to initiate property attachment proceedings and issue arrest warrants beyond Indian borders through diplomatic channels—though such efforts are rarely successful in politically sensitive cases involving international human rights issues.

Observers point out that declaring Altaf Butt a proclaimed offender is symbolic and more about sending a message than achieving any practical legal outcome. “It’s an act of intimidation. It shows the extent to which the Indian state is willing to go to suppress the pro-freedom narrative,” said a Kashmiri journalist based in Islamabad.

This latest action follows a string of similar cases filed against Hurriyat leaders, journalists, activists, and civil society members in IIOJK since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. Many see this as part of a systematic attempt to dismantle IIOJK’s resistance movement through fear, incarceration, and forced exile.

Despite the intensifying repression, leaders like Altaf Ahmed Butt continue to speak out from abroad, urging the international community to intervene and hold India accountable for its actions in the occupied territory.