South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

Srinagar,  Feb 26, 2020: A letter from a Kashmiri political prisoner addressed to his family in  Kashmir and says that he remains confined to four choked walls. More than 700 Kashmiris including students, youth, young boys, hurriyet and political leader, lawyers including High Court Bar Association President, Mian Abdul Qayoom ,  High court Bar Association General Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Bhat  and Trade leader Muhamamd Yasin Khan held under draconian law Public Safety Act (PSA) which allows detentions without trial for up to 2 years. The detainee, held under provisions of the 1978 Public Safety Act (PSA), with another 22 Kashmiri men in an Indian jail, asks his family and friends to pray for him.
A copy of the letter available with Anadolu Agency says: "We are 23 Kashmiri brothers here and all of us are confined to solitary prison cells. Neither can we talk to each other nor can we shake hands but only remain confined to the four choked walls.  “Please pray for us as we are in helpless condition,” the detainee, who did not wish to be named, writes to his family.The mass detention of thousands of Kashmiris began 4 August, 2019 when the Indian government stripped the region of its special provisions.From thereon, hundreds of people, particularly young men, have been lodged in faraway jails under the black law Act, described by Amnesty International in 2016 as a draconian law. 

Srinagar, Feb 20, 2020: A woman was killed on Thursday evening after she was hit by an Indian Army vehicle  in South Kashmir's Islamabad district. Official sources said that a woman was hit by an Indian Army vehicle at her native village Sheelipora village of Achabal this evening.  They said that she was shifted to a onenearby hospital where doctors declared her brought dead. The deceased has been identified as identified as Shahzada Akhtar (35) wife of Fayaz Ahmad, resident of Sheelipora Achabal. 

Srinagar SpokespersonKPC: Feb 17, 2020: : Kashmir Press Club on Monday took serious note of the continuous harassment of journalists in the Kashmir Valley.On Sunday night, a multimedia journalist Kamran Yousuf working with the Newsclick was picked up from his home by the police. Recalling the details, Kamran said that a police party led by Dysp and SHO Pulwama entered his home around 11pm and knocked on the door.
 
“I saw policemen surrounding our premises. The police official asked me come along and snatched my phones,” he said. According to him, he was taken in a police vehicle to the office of Dysp and questioned about some twitter account run by Kamran Manzoor. “They checked my phones and searched everything on it. They asked me about some Kamran Manzoor and showed me his twitter account. The police officer said we had suspicion that you are running it,” said Kamran.
 

 Srinagar, Feb 15, 2020: Three Kashmiri engineering students were arrested on fake cases by Indian police in south Indian state Karnatka.

 
Srinagar, January 7, 2020:An 18-year-old boy Zahid Hassan Gadhanji was killed at Charsoo in Pulwama in south Kashmir on Tuesday in the first  of this year.  The police said a cordon and search operation was conducted this morning ,as we cordoned off the house, But the youth who was hiding in the House he jumped out of the house and in the brief fire he was killed. The family had told the police that Zahid had left home on January 2 and went missing. They had lodged a missing person report on January 5 at the Bijbehara police station.

February 8, 2020ISLAMABAD:  Two of world largest and prominent Human Rights (HR) Organizations, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) in a Joint letter this Feb 5th have urged Indian Prime Minister, Home Minister and Chief Justice of Supreme court to immediately release Miyan Abdul Qayoom, President of Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association and hundreds of others who are arbitrarily detained under draconian Public Safety Act (PSA). PSA gives powers to Indian government to detain anyone for 2 years without trial.

Srinagar, February 3, 2020 : Indian forces arrested over a dozen Kashmiri youth  during siege and search and house raid operations in Pulwama district.
Eleven youth were arrested from Karimabad and Kakapora villages of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district during night raids, reports said.

Srinagar, 29 Jan , 2020: The 76-year-old Bar Association President, Mian Abdul Qayoom suffered a heart attack in Indian Agra jail in Uttar Pradesh , today. The illegally detaiend Mian Abdul Qayoom was admitted to a hospital in Agra Medical hospital. One of the most prominent lawyers and president of Kashmir’s High Court Bar Association Mian Abdul Qayoom was battling multiple ailments without proper medical care inside Agra jail in Uttar Pradesh.

Srinagar, 29 Jan 2020: High-speed mobile internet of all cellular companies and broadband remained suspended in Kashmir valley since August 5, 2019  when the government of India scrapped Article 370 -35A of Jammu and Kashmir. People, particularly media persons, professionals, students, and traders continued to suffer despite authorities resuming 2G mobile internet service after over 170 days on January 25.

New York, January 15, 2020: The New York-based Human Rights Watch has criticized the Indian government for gross human rights violations including communication blackout imposed after the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status in August, last year.  The Human Rights Watch in its World Report 2020 said, the Indian government has tried to shut down Kashmir, hiding the full extent of the harm caused there. The 652-page report says that on August 5, before revoking the state’s special status, the government imposed a security lockdown and deployed additional troops. Thousands of Kashmiris were detained without charge, including former chief ministers, political leaders, opposition activists, lawyers, and journalists. The internet and phones were shut down. The government said it was to prevent loss of life, but there were credible, serious allegations of beatings and torture by Indian forces.