August 5 marks four years of increased repression by Indian authorities in IIOJK: Amnesty India

 Amnesty India has said that August 5 marked four years of increased repression by Indian authorities in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Modi regime, in gross violation of the UN resolutions and international law, repealed the special status of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and imposed an unprecedented military siege in the territory on this day in 2019.

Amnesty India in a tweet said on 5 August 2019, the Indian government unilaterally abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and extended its control over the region.

It said the Indian government has drastically intensified the repression of rights in Jammu & Kashmir in the four years since the change in status of the territory.

Four years since of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, documents how civil society at large and journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders in particular have faced relentless interrogations, arbitrary travel bans, revolving door detentions and repressive media policies while blocking access to appeals or justice in courts and human rights bodies, it maintained.

By harassing and intimidating critical voices, authorities are targeting all credible, independent sources of information in and about Jammu and Kashmir, it said, adding there is a silence achieved on all dissent through heavy handed repression which has spread fear and uncertainty in the region.