NEW YORK: The United Nations has expressed serious concern over alleged human rights violations by Indian authorities in occupied Kashmir.
UN human rights experts condemned incidents of torture, suspicious deaths, and mistreatment during detention.
Following the Pulwama incident, Indian security forces and officials reportedly violated international human rights standards, detaining around 2,800 individuals, including human rights activists and journalists, without due process.
The UN noted that Muslim families were subjected to raids and discriminatory treatment, sometimes under the pretext of counter-terrorism, and called for accountability for those responsible.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has demanded an independent and transparent assessment of the situation in the valley. Reports highlight concerns over torture, ill-treatment, deaths in custody, and instances of lynching.
The UN also condemned acts of collective punishment, including home demolitions and forced evictions, as severe violations of fundamental rights. Restrictions on mobile internet and blocking of thousands of social media accounts, including those of journalists, were also noted.
Furthermore, UN experts questioned the monitoring of Kashmiri students, data collection practices, and the increase in hate speech targeting Muslims across India. Destruction of Muslim homes, mosques, and businesses in Gujarat and Assam was cited as discriminatory action.
