US based rights body the Human Rights Watch has deplored the state of human rights in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
In its annual review of human rights practices around the globe, the rights body cited ordeal of hundreds of Kashmiris who have been detained without charge under the draconian Public Safety Act.
The report said the Armed Forces (Special Pow-ers) Act continued to provide immunity from prose-cution to Indian security forces, even for most seri-ous human rights abuses.
It also criticized the Indian government’s new media policy in Jammu and Kashmir that contained vague provisions to abuse and unnecessarily penal-ize the freedom of speech.
The report also pointed out to the huge financial loss to the territory due to the lockdown.
On the other hand, giving the lie to the Indian media claims, a report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service said that Indian troops, in their continued acts of state terrorism, martyred 42 Kashmiris but the Indian media claimed that only 36 persons were killed in the months of June and July in the occupied territory.
Meanwhile, Indian troops have launched a cor-don and search operation in Akhnoor area of Jammu. The operation was going on till last reports came in.—KMS
