ANKARA: India slammed and snubbed by Global Rights Body over OccupiedKashmir lockdown.
The global rights body on Monday called on the Indian government toimmediately release detained people in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Indian authorities should immediately release detained Kashmiris who havenot been charged with a recognizable offense,” Human Rights Watch (HRW)said in a statement.
It said that “nearly 4,000 people, including supporters of politicalparties, separatist leaders, lawyers, journalists” have reportedly beendetained in Jammu and Kashmir since Aug. 5 when the government scrapped thespecial status of the Muslim-majority region.
“There have been serious allegations of torture and beatings. Manydetainees have not been allowed to contact their families or lawyers,” thestatement read.
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The New York-based rights group underlined that the authorities “in manycases detained people or placed them under house arrest without providing alegal basis.”
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at the HRW, said that anyone who hasbeen detained in Kashmir “without evidence of a crime should be immediatelyand unconditionally released”, calling on the authorities to allow “everydetainee access to lawyers and family members”, according to the statement.
“India is making a mockery of its human rights commitments by denyingKashmiris a voice in their future, jailing political leaders, andsuspending basic freedoms,” Ganguly added.
