"Ultimately these violations, which are taking place in the context of Yemen's armed conflict, should be investigated as war crimes," said Tirana Hassan, Amnesty's crisis response director.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International (AI) has urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "immediately lift the communications blackout" imposed in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) since August 4.
In a series of tweets on India's independence day on Thursday, the human rights watchdog said Modi must review his decision and end the communications blockade "if he believes that his decisions regarding J&K have the support of the people of India".
It's a paradox that as India celebrates Independence Day, Jammu & Kashmir continue to be subjected to a lockdown. If India's PM Modi believes that his decisions regarding J&K have the support of the people of India, then he must immediately lift the communications blackout.
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) August 15, 2019
AI said it was imperative for Modi to "listen to the people in the region ... hear what they have to say when it comes to decisions that affect their lives."
August 14 being celebrated as Kashmir Solidarity Day
The human rights watchdog deemed the celebration of India's independence day a paradox in light of the persisting lockdown in IOK.
He must listen to the people in the region, engage with them & hear what they have to say when it comes to decisions that affect their lives. This sadly has just not happened since 5th August.
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) August 15, 2019
As India celebrates its Independence day, Jammu and Kashmir are still under a communications blackout since the 5th of August. Here's everything you need to know. pic.twitter.com/BOsUrFXWrQ
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) August 15, 2019
Fearing widespread unrest, India had snapped telecommunications and imposed a curfew in IOK on August 4, a day before its surprise presidential decree to strip the Muslim-majority region of its special status.
Tens of thousands of troop reinforcements have been deployed to the main city of Srinagar and other towns and villages, turning the picturesque city into a deserted warren of barbed wire and barricades.
Indian forces arrested and detained over 500 people, including 300 local politicians and a number of university professors, business leaders and activists.
The lockdown, however, has failed to quell protests from Kashmiris and Indian forces have resorted to violence against demonstrators.
Footage filmed by AFP on Monday showed hundreds of people protesting in the Soura area of Srinagar, shouting slogans such as “We want freedom” and “India go back”.
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