AS the five-year mark of the revocation of Article 370 passed on August 5, 2024, the region of Jammu and Kashmir continues to reel from the disastrous consequences of this detrimental decision. Modi government’s unilateral move to revoke the special autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 has not only stripped away the region’s political identity but also plunged it into a quagmire of human rights abuses, economic hardship, and social unrest.
Since the revocation of Article 370, Indian authorities have imposed severe restrictions on free expression, peaceful assembly and other fundamental rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports of extrajudicial killings by security forces have persisted, highlighting the brutal measures employed to maintain control over the region. Human rights defenders and critics face arbitrary arrests and raids, often based on dubious terrorism allegations under stringent laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
These broadly written legislation, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Areas Act, allows security forces to search homes and arrest suspects without a warrant, shoot suspects on sight, and destroy buildings believed to house militants or arms. Following the 2019 reorganization of the region, the central government now........