Islamabad: Indian police arrested three Kashmiri youths in Bandipora district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir amid continuing allegations by political analysts and rights observers that repeated detentions and crackdowns are designed to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation to silence dissent.
Political analysts and human rights observers have urged the international community and global human rights organizations to take notice of the continuing arrests and alleged rights violations in IIOJK.
They have called for independent monitoring of the situation and appealed for measures to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people.
the youth, identified as Sayar Ahmad Malla, Meraj-ud-Din Hajam and Aamir Tariq Ganaie, were arrested at a checkpoint in the Hajin area of the district.
To justify the arrests, police accused the three youth of involvement in drug trafficking and registered a case against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Hajin police station.
It is pertinent to mention that, according to political analysts and rights observers, Indian forces have continued to arrest and detain Kashmiri youth across IIOJK under various security-related allegations. They contend that such actions are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, suppress dissent, and discourage Kashmiris from pursuing what they describe as their UN-recognized right to self-determination.
The continuing arrests have drawn concern from rights observers, who have urged the international community and global human rights organizations to closely monitor the situation in IIOJK and press for the protection of fundamental rights and civil liberties.
More than 3,000 Kashmiris including Hurriyat leaders, political activists, youth, scholars and human rights defenders are currently detained in prisons across India and IIOJK.