Systematic Persecution of Christians in India and Arrests and Digital Restrictions in IIOJK Expose a Unified Policy of Repression

Rising Intolerance and State-Supported Hostility in India

Across India and Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, recent events clearly show a widening pattern of repression driven by state policy and political silence. Violence against Christians during Christmas, arrests of Kashmiri youth, and punishment for using VPNs are not isolated actions. Together, they reveal how India is shrinking civic space and normalising fear. From a Pakistani perspective, these developments expose the real face of Indian democracy, which appears increasingly selective and coercive.

♦ Pattern Not Coincidence: The repetition of abuse across religion, region, and digital space shows a deliberate approach rather than accidental failures
♦ Fear As Governance: India increasingly relies on fear, arrests, and restrictions instead of law and dialogue
♦ Democratic Claims Questioned: Such actions weaken India’s claim of being a plural and democratic state

Systematic Persecution of Christians During Christmas in India

The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has strongly condemned the sharp rise in attacks against Christians across India during Christmas, calling it a systematic campaign of hatred. According to documented findings, over 60 incidents were reported in a short period, including mob violence, church vandalism, and open threats. Christmas, a time of peace, turned into fear for many Christian families. The lack of swift state response made the situation even worse.

♦ Targeted Religious Violence: The scale and timing of attacks show Christians were deliberately targeted during their holy festival
♦ State Silence And Complicity: Weak response by authorities created the impression of quiet approval
♦ Minorities Left Unsafe: Religious minorities appear increasingly unprotected in today’s India

Political Power Shielding Violence Against Vulnerable Citizens

One of the most disturbing cases involved a ruling party official. A BJP district vice president assaulted a visually impaired Christian woman, Safalta Karthik, during a Christmas charity programme in Jabalpur. This incident symbolises how political power shields violence instead of stopping it. When people linked to authority commit abuse, justice becomes distant for victims.

♦ Power Above Law: Political links often protect attackers from accountability
♦ Victims Silenced: Fear discourages victims from seeking justice
♦ Rule Of Law Undermined: Justice becomes selective and weak

Ignored Calls for Accountability and Independent Oversight

APCR demanded independent investigations, police accountability, and strict action against hate speech by public figures. It also called for an independent statutory body to monitor communal violence and mandatory human-rights training for law enforcement. These demands are basic and reasonable. India’s failure to act shows a lack of seriousness in protecting minorities.

♦ Independent Probe Blocked: Existing systems fail to deliver fair justice
♦ Police Accountability Missing: Officers often escape responsibility
♦ Reforms Delayed: Rights remain promises, not practice

Arbitrary Arrests of Kashmiri Youth in IIOJK

The same repressive mindset is visible in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where Indian forces arrested two youth, Manzoor Hussain and Suraj, during a crackdown in Jammu district. The arrests were carried out by the Border Security Force (BSF) under vague security claims. No clear legal grounds were provided, a practice that has become routine in the occupied territory.

♦ Youth Criminalised: Kashmiri youth are treated as suspects by default
♦ Vague Security Excuses: Arrests are justified without transparency
♦ Fear Spread Systematically: Families live under constant anxiety

Cordon and Search Operations as Daily Instruments of Control

Alongside arrests, Indian forces frequently conduct cordon-and-search operations that disrupt normal life. The Assam Rifles recently blocked the Sopore–Bandipora road over a claimed “suspected object,” causing panic and inconvenience. Such actions are not rare; they are designed to keep people under pressure and surveillance.

♦ Daily Life Disrupted: Roads blocked and movement restricted
♦ Psychological Pressure: Fear becomes part of everyday existence
♦ Occupation Reinforced: Control replaces normal governance

Criminalisation of Digital Freedom Through VPN Cases

India’s repression has now extended into the digital space. In Doda district, two civilians were booked simply for using VPN applications. One of them, Khalid Abrar, was charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while another, Mohammad Irfan, faced similar charges. Using VPNs, a common global practice, has been turned into a crime.

♦ Privacy Treated As Crime: Digital safety tools are criminalised
♦ Harsh Laws Misused: Draconian laws replace common sense
♦ Information Control: India fears free access to information

Why Digital Restrictions Deepen Repression in Kashmir

VPN bans and digital policing amount to collective punishment, especially in a region already facing frequent internet shutdowns. In Kashmir, access to information is tightly controlled. Criminalising VPN use further isolates people from the world and blocks documentation of rights abuses.

♦ Digital Isolation: Kashmiris are cut off from global communication
♦ Silencing Dissent Online: Free expression is restricted digitally
♦ Fear Of Truth: India limits access to prevent exposure

One Policy, Multiple Victims Across India and Kashmir

Violence against Christians, arrests of Kashmiri youth, and punishment for VPN use are deeply connected. They show a state that views diversity, dissent, and privacy as threats. Religion, identity, and expression are all suppressed using the same tools of force and law.

♦ Unified Repressive Policy: Different communities face the same harsh methods
♦ Minorities And Youth Targeted: The most vulnerable suffer first
♦ Civil Space Shrinking: Freedom is steadily closing

Pakistan’s Perspective on Rights and Regional Responsibility

Pakistan has consistently raised concerns about human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the persecution of minorities in India. Pakistan believes peace comes through dialogue, justice, and equal rights. Repression may silence voices temporarily, but it cannot bring stability or legitimacy.

♦ Moral Responsibility: Pakistan highlights injustice at global forums
♦ Dialogue Over Force: Sustainable peace needs respect, not fear
♦ Global Attention Needed: Silence enables further abuse

What the Current Trajectory Clearly Reveals

The systematic persecution of Christians in India, combined with Kashmiri arrests and digital restrictions, reveals a deep crisis in India’s democratic claims. Control has replaced consent, and fear has replaced fairness. Each new incident strengthens the record of repression and weakens India’s global narrative.

♦ Truth Becoming Visible: Repression is harder to hide
♦ Credibility Eroding: Democratic claims lose weight
♦ Change Urgently Needed: Rights must replace repression