Source:

Background information on extremist & military groups in India [ID 6440]

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15.02.2006 - Source: Asian Centre for Human Rights

Report on attacks against media personnel by police, army, armed opposition groups and right-wing political parties ("Messengers under fire in India") [#44596],  [ID 6441]

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25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003 ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19765],  [ID 6442]

"There were no confirmed reports of politically motivated disappearances due to action by government forces; however, there were numerous disappearances during the year. [...]

There were no reports of political prisoners. [...]

Under the Passports Act, the Government may deny a passport to any applicant who "may or is likely to engage outside India in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India." The Government used this provision to prohibit the foreign travel of some government critics, especially those advocating Sikh independence and members of the violent separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir. For example, in January, the Government suspended the passport of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a leader of the separatist All-Parties Hurriyat Conference."

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02.12.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

New J+K government does not implement POTA; however, scores of people who were arrested under POTA under the previous government continue to be held in detention; only a few political prisoners were released throughout the year ("Open Letter to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on the failed promises of the Common Minimum Program") [#17967],  [ID 6443]

"[...] Common Minimum Program Point 17: The Government considers that there are enough laws in existence to deal with militancy. Therefore it will not implement POTA in the state.(1)

Common Minimum Program Point 3: The government shall review the cases of detainees being held without trial for long periods. It shall release all detainees held on non-specific charges, those not charged with serious crimes and those who have been held on charges that are such that the period spent in jail exceeds their possible sentence.

Amnesty International welcomes the fact that the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA) has not been used to arrest Kashmiris over the last year but remains concerned that scores of people who were arrested under POTA under the previous government continue to be held in detention without any hope for release or review of their cases in the foreseeable future. These people are arbitrarily detained in violation of Article 9 (4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which India is state party.(2)

During the election campaign the state government promised the release of all detainees against whom there were no charges and that those who had been released by the courts would not be rearrested. Soon after the state government came into power, a few political prisoners, including Yasin Malik one of the leader[s]of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), were released creating hope that others being detained without charge outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir would be released. (3) Several other political activists were released on bail but no other releases have occurred to date.

The state government has failed to live up to another commitment made during the election to release a large number of detainees being held outside Jammu and Kashmir in violation of the amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 (PSA) which provides that Kashmiris cannot be detained outside the state. In addition, those detained under Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, (TADA) which was enforced in the state in 1987, continue to be behind bars even though the law lapsed in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995.(4) TADA continues to be applied retrospectively in the state.

A screening committee to review the cases of political prisoners and militants, which began working in January 2003 met a few times early this year. Only a few political prisoners were released because the committee failed to meet consistently throughout the year. The state government’s agreement with the central government that the screening committee would include an officer of the Union Ministry for Home Affairs and would vet candidates for release from jail not only raised serious doubts about the release of political prisoners which is at the heart of the "healing touch" policy but changed the nature of the screening itself because the central government were able to determine which candidates were released.(5)"

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17.10.2003 - Source: BBC News

Gujarat: Tens of thousands of Hindu activists, trying to stage a rally in the northern holy town of Ayodhya, arrested ("Police clash with Hindu hardliners") [#16877],  [ID 6444]

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05.06.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Maharashtra: 186 supporters of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA, Save the Narmada Movement) arrested and detained for several hours by police, following their participation in a peaceful demonstration in front of the Commissioner's office in Nashik ("India: Peaceful demonstrators targeted once again in the Narmada Valley") [#13474],  [ID 6445]

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27.06.2002 - Source: Amnesty International

Madhya Pradesh: An activist working with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) Movement to Save the Narmada, was picked up by police at a bus stop in Khedi Balwadie, Dhar district, and he has not been seen since ("India - UA 195/02") [#7638],  [ID 6446]

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06.09.2001 - Source: Amnesty International

Madhya Pradesh: Attack by police on non-violent Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) demonstrators in Badwami left 21 activists injured ("India: Amnesty International welcomes enquiry into police brutality") [#3863],  [ID 6447]

Document(s): 00631ind.htm
Open document

18.06.2001 - Source: Amnesty International

Jammu and Kashmir: Arbitrary arrest and detention of those peacefully voicing dissent continuing: political activists detained and beaten last week following public protests over killing of 6 women ("Use of the Public Security Act in Jammu and Kashmir") [#2169],  [ID 6448]

Document(s): 0651ind.htm
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