*ISLAMABAD – **India gets yet another international blow over OccupiedKashmir lockdown from **US based organisation Genocide Watch.*
*Watch has issued an alert and urged the United Nations and its members towarn India to cease and desist from causing genocide in the illegallyoccupied region, Kashmir.*
Occupied Kashmir has been under curfew and lockdown since August 5 afterthe Indian government abolished Article 370, which granted special statusto the valley. The curfew and lockdown has led to protests in the valleywith thousands of Kashmiris including Hurriyat leaders placed under housearrest or detained.
“On August 5, the Indian President revoked the Special Autonomous Status ofIndia Administered Jammu and Kashmir under Articles 370 and 35A of theConstitution of India. India has over 600,000 troops in Kashmir. Movementof people and freedom of the press are restricted. India has cut offinternet communications,” Genocide Watch said in its alert.
The organisation also gave a list of risk factors for a genocide that areearly warnings of massacres in occupied Kashmir
1. Prior genocidal massacres and continuing impunity for such killings
2. Continued armed conflict between India and Pakistan over border areas inoccupied Kashmir
3. An exclusionary ideology of “Hindutva” – India as Hindu nation – byModi’s ruling BJP
4. Authoritarian military rule without legal restraints imposed by civilianIndian officials
5. Rule by a minority military force (Hindus and Sikhs) over majorityMuslim citizens
6. Cut-off of communications and outside access by internet, media, andtrade
7. Widespread violations of basic human rights — torture, rape, 2-yeardetentions without charge, arbitrary arrests and deportations of Muslimpolitical and human rights leaders