LONDON (KMS) – London-based world human rights watchdog – AmnestyInternational – has said that it documented a clear pattern of the Indianauthorities arbitrarily detaining activists, politicians and even childrenif they are thought to hold dissenting opinions, as the crackdown inOccupied Kashmir continues.
After conducting interviews in Occupied Kashmir in the last six weeks,Amnesty International India is demanding the immediate release of alldetainees held without charge or trial, and a complete lifting of thecommunications blockade in the territory, said a press release issued bythe rights body on its website.
The statement said that the Amnesty also recorded a pattern of theauthorities using excessive force and intimidation. “Almost every detainedperson interviewed by Amnesty described being beaten and threatened, withseveral of these cases amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman anddegrading treatment. In some instances, people reported forces ransackingtheir homes, intentionally damaging property and threatening families,” itsaid.
“In most cases of people detained, lawyers and family members of thedetainees are not informed of the grounds of arrests and the whereabouts oftheir clients and relatives. Refusal to share critical information with thedetainees’ family members and lawyer constitutes a serious violation of thedetainees’ right to a fair trial. It effectively prevents them from seekingan independent judicial review of the lawfulness of their detention,” itadded.
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Patel, Head of Amnesty International India, said, “The cases documented byAmnesty International India clearly show the authorities’ witch-hunt tocurb dissenting voices in Kashmir. An atmosphere of fear and reprisal hasensured silence from many quarters. This has been compounded througharbitrary detentions.”
The statement said that the Amnesty International India interviewed 21people in the territory including those detained and their lawyers, medicalprofessionals, local journalists and political leaders.