India’s rights record

New Delhi’s discriminatory practices in Occupied Kashmir have once again come under international scrutiny, as the United Nations Human Rights Committee recently expressed profound concern over human rights violations in the region. The committee’s report highlighted the prolonged application of laws such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) — described by Human Rights Watch as a “tool of state abuse, oppression and discrimination” — in “disturbed areas”, leading to widespread and severe human rights violations, including excessive use of force resulting in unlawful killings, prolonged arbitrary detention, sexual violence, forced displacement and torture.

In addition, the UN panel has also urged India to take decisive action to end violence against minority groups in Kashmir and other occupied territories and to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination laws. The report specifically addresses the issues faced by Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, scheduled castes and tribes, as well as other oppressed groups, emphasising the urgent need for action to address these concerns. The UN body has also noted that the Indian state is subjecting its own citizens to “widespread and severe human rights violations, including excessive use of force resulting in unlawful killings, prolonged arbitrary detention, sexual violence, forced displacement and torture”.

The Human Rights Committee’s recommendation to establish a mechanism to acknowledge responsibility and investigate human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and other regions with separatist movements or unrest makes for a significant step towards ensuring accountability and justice for the affected population, but as history has shown, India has zero interest in taking criticism from renowned human rights activists and groups, instead accusing them of meddling in “India’s internal matters”. Meanwhile, Indian critics are routinely harassed and run out of town to ensure domestic criticism stays on the fringes.