HRW report blames militants, Cenre for ‘violating rights’ of Kashmiris

Sumit Hakhoo

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 16

Expressing concern over the continued communication blockade and detentions in Kashmir valley, post the abrogation of Article 370, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Centre and militant groups for the continued ‘violation of rights’ of the Kashmiris.

In its World Report-2020,the HRW has accused the militants for killing eight people post the abrogation of Article 370. “Violent protesters at times threatened those that failed to join shutdowns to counter the government claims that the situation was normal”, the report said.

The report allegedly charges security forces of carrying out ‘beatings and torture’ in the Valley after August 5, 2019.

“Thousands of Kashmiris were detained without charge, including former chief ministers, political leaders, opposition activists, lawyers, and journalists. The Internet and phones were shut down. The government said it was to prevent the loss of life, but there were credible, serious allegations of beatings and torture by the security forces”, the report claims.

The HRW has also blamed February 14, 2019 suicide bombing claimed by Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad for military escalation between India and Pakistan.

“On February 14, a suicide attack on a security forces convoy in Pulwama district killed over 40 Indian troops. The Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed the responsibility. It led to military escalation between India and Pakistan”.

Although the report has acknowledged that by November, 2019, some restrictions were lifted by the Centre in Kashmir but it has expressed dismay over continued detention of political leaders, ban on mobile Internet services and restrictions on the movement of international journalists to visit Kashmir.

The HRW report assumed significance as its 2018 report has came under criticism by the Centre over its ‘biased’ report on the situation in Kashmir as it has not clearly mentioned the role of Pakistan in supporting the terrorist groups.

The Centre dismissed the report as a “false and motivated narrative” that ignored “the core issue of the cross-border terrorism.”