World

Indian police arrest Kashmiri activist

Khurram Pervez, scheduled to brief UN on Kashmir situation earlier this week, was prevented from travelling to Geneva

Afp September 16, 2016

Khurram Pervez, coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), was scheduled to brief a UN Human Rights Council session on the situation, but immigration officials blocked him from boarding his flight at Delhi's main airport. PHOTO: facebook.com/sheikhkhurramparvez

SRINAGAR: Indian police said on Friday they have arrested a prominent Kashmiri activist who was this week prevented from travelling to Geneva, where he had been due to brief UN officials on the strife-torn region.

Khurram Pervez was arrested late on Thursday after returning to his home in Srinagar, which has been roiled for months by violent protests over the killing of a young separatist by Indian soldiers. Police superintendent Faisal Qayoom confirmed his arrest but did not say what the charges were. "We are looking into it. For the moment we've taken him into custody," he said.

Pervez's wife Samina told AFP police had come to the family home late on Thursday to arrest him. He can be held for up to six months without charge under India's Public Safety Act. More than 80 people have been killed in Indian occupied Kashmir since the militant leader's death on July 8, in one of the deadliest bouts of violence since a full-blown armed rebellion was at its peak in the 1990s.

Pakistan tugs at world conscience on Kashmir

Most have died in clashes between protesters and police and paramilitaries who have fired tear gas and pellet guns at demonstrators. Authorities this week banned prayers to mark Eidul Azha at the main mosque in Srinagar, capital of India's only Muslim-majority state. Internet and mobile networks have also been cut off in a bid to prevent a repeat of the protests.

Pervez, coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), was scheduled to brief a UN Human Rights Council session on the situation, but immigration officials blocked him from boarding his flight at Delhi's main airport.

Both India and neighbouring Pakistan lay claim to the whole of the Himalayan territory, which has been divided between the two since they separated seven decades ago. The two countries, which are both now nuclear powers, have twice gone to war over the territory and accuse each other of stoking violence.

COMMENTS (2)

RawalPindi Kid | 8 years ago | Reply @G. Din: Freeloading? In their own homeland of occupied Kashmir? You have to be joking. He is in his home, which is illegally occupied by India since 1947. When will you guys get it that they DON'T want to be part of India. Your comments are akin to a robber calling the homeowner they are stealing from a freeloader. How hilarious.

G. Din | 8 years ago | Reply He should have been allowed to board the plane after confiscating his passport. Killing two birds with one stone. He would have been free to pour out his bile to whomsoever and India would have been rid of a freeloading parasite.

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