Three-stage assembly elections have commenced in India-held Jammu and Kashmir amidst reports of widespread repression. Amnesty International has urged New Delhi to cease the detentions of dissenters ahead of the first elections in the disputed region in a decade.
Following the revocation of the region’s special constitutional status by the Modi government in 2019, these elections mark the first democratic exercise in the area. Amnesty highlighted the escalation of human rights violations post the abrogation of Article 370, including arbitrary detentions, passport revocations, and misuse of anti-terror laws.
The cases of individuals facing travel bans and detentions for speaking out against the repression have been documented. Critics like Masrat Zahra and Waheed Para have had their passports revoked, restricting their movements.
Amidst the clampdown on dissent, Amnesty calls for the release of all those detained under draconian laws and an end to the harassment of dissenting voices in Jammu and Kashmir.
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