The Amnesty International India has asked Indian government to ensure that ‘ordinary Kashmiri women and men do not face targeted attacks, harassment and arbitrary arrests’ as tensions simmer in the aftermath of last week’s attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pulwama area.
In a press statement, the Amnesty International India took note of media reports that Kashmiri university students and traders in northern states, primarily Uttarakhand, Haryana and Bihar, have been beaten, threatened, and intimidated by some Hindu nationalist groups. “Many students are reported to have fled their universities in fear. Two colleges in Dehradun and one in Moradabad have stated that they will not admit new Kashmiri students,” it noted.
“We are at a dangerous moment, and authorities must do everything they can to uphold the rule of law,” Amnesty International India head Aakar Patel held. “Ordinary Kashmiris across India who are only seeking to improve their lives should not be singled out for violence simply because of where they come from,” he asserted.
“The mobs who use patriotism as an excuse to hound Kashmiris out of their homes, hostels and shops are corroding the basic values of the constitution of India. Authorities must investigate all allegations of threats and violence, and bring those responsible to justice,” Patel continued. “The [Indian] Home Ministry has taken the right step by asking state governments to ensure the safety and security of all Kashmiris. Authorities must make sure that this situation does not deteriorate further,” he concluded.
Published in Daily Times, February 20th 2019.
