Condemning New Mass Detentions in Kashmir As State Repression
February 6th, 2025
Justice For All Canada condemns ongoing mass detentions in Indian-occupied Kashmir, in Behibagh, Kulgam district, as a deliberate act of state repression designed to silence and subjugate an already besieged population. Under the pretext of “counterterrorism”, Indian security forces have arbitrarily detained over 500 individuals in sweeping nocturnal raids, targeting civilians, former political prisoners, and alleged "overground workers" (OGWs). This indiscriminate crackdown violates fundamental human rights and exposes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s continued use of mass punishment as a tool of collective retribution.
The crackdown began in the early hours, with security forces conducting aggressive raids across multiple districts, including Pulwama, Anantnag, and Shopian. Families were forcibly awakened as their relatives—many of them young men with no prior history of militancy—were taken away without explanation. In some instances, detainees were reportedly blindfolded and transported to unknown locations, leaving families in distress and uncertainty. The operation also extended beyond former militants or suspected OGWs; ordinary civilians, including students and traders, were among those picked up. Indian authorities have remained evasive about where these individuals are being held and whether they will face formal charges, a common tactic that has fuelled further fear and instability in the region.
While the killing of ex-army soldier Manzoor Ahmad Wagay is being cited as the justification for these detentions, the reality is that most detainees have no proven connection to the attack. This mirrors past patterns of arbitrary arrests in Kashmir, where mass detentions have become a knee-jerk reaction to security incidents, routinely crushing civil liberties under the guise of "law and order." Kashmiri leaders have condemned these arrests, mentioning that an entire population cannot be held hostage to the actions of a few.
"How can an entire community be collectively punished for the acts of unknown individuals? These sweeping detentions only breed further alienation and erode any remaining trust," stated Kashmiri politician Ruhullah Mehdi. His words echo the lived experiences of thousands of Kashmiris, who have repeatedly witnessed how the state weaponizes emergency laws to suppress dissent rather than ensure justice.
Not isolated incidents, these detentions are part of a well-documented pattern of repression, where “counterterrorism” serves as a pretext to criminalize Kashmiri identity. For instance, the BJP’s use of vague and unsubstantiated labels such as “OGWs” and "hybrid militants" traps individuals in a system where guilt is presumed without evidence, leaving them with no legal recourse. Detainees are held without charges or trial, in direct violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and UN guidelines on arbitrary detention. This escalation of mass arrests also reflects India’s broader clampdown on Kashmiri media and civic spaces, where their human rights abuses are shielded from international scrutiny.
Justice For All Canada urges the following immediate actions:
This familiar systematic oppression of Kashmiris constitutes the erasure of an entire people’s rights under the cover of security operations. A failure to respond risks legitimizing state repression and further entrenching instability in the region. Canada must break its silence and hold the BJP accountable.
Sources
Ashiq, Peerzada. “J&K Leaders Decry ‘mass Detentions’ in Kashmir after Kulgam Attack.” The Hindu, 5 Feb. 2025, www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/jk-leaders-decry-mass-detentions-in-kashmir-after-kulgam-attack/article69184757.ece.
Masood, Bashaarat. “‘Not Counter-Terrorism but Collective Retribution’: In Kashmir, Anger Mounts over Mass Detentions in Wake of Ex-Soldier’s Killing.” The Indian Express, 6 Feb. 2025, indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmir-mass-detentions-ex-soldiers-killing-counter-terrorism-9820307/.
The Wire. “Mass Detentions across Kashmir after Ex-Army Soldier Killed in Kulgam.” The Wire: The Wire News India, Latest News,News from India, Politics, External Affairs, Science, Economics, Gender and Culture, The Wire, 4 Feb. 2025, m.thewire.in/article/security/mass-detentions-across-kashmir-after-ex-army-soldier-killed-in-kulgam.
Wani, Fayaz. “Kashmir Leaders Slam Mass Detentions after Kulgam Attack; Call It ‘Collective Retribution.’” The New Indian Express, 6 Feb. 2025, www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/06/kashmir-leaders-slam-mass-detentions-after-kulgam-attack-call-it-collective-retribution.
Justice For All Canada condemns ongoing mass detentions in Indian-occupied Kashmir, in Behibagh, Kulgam district, as a deliberate act of state repression designed to silence and subjugate an already besieged population. Under the pretext of “counterterrorism”, Indian security forces have arbitrarily detained over 500 individuals in sweeping nocturnal raids, targeting civilians, former political prisoners, and alleged "overground workers" (OGWs). This indiscriminate crackdown violates fundamental human rights and exposes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s continued use of mass punishment as a tool of collective retribution.
The crackdown began in the early hours, with security forces conducting aggressive raids across multiple districts, including Pulwama, Anantnag, and Shopian. Families were forcibly awakened as their relatives—many of them young men with no prior history of militancy—were taken away without explanation. In some instances, detainees were reportedly blindfolded and transported to unknown locations, leaving families in distress and uncertainty. The operation also extended beyond former militants or suspected OGWs; ordinary civilians, including students and traders, were among those picked up. Indian authorities have remained evasive about where these individuals are being held and whether they will face formal charges, a common tactic that has fuelled further fear and instability in the region.
While the killing of ex-army soldier Manzoor Ahmad Wagay is being cited as the justification for these detentions, the reality is that most detainees have no proven connection to the attack. This mirrors past patterns of arbitrary arrests in Kashmir, where mass detentions have become a knee-jerk reaction to security incidents, routinely crushing civil liberties under the guise of "law and order." Kashmiri leaders have condemned these arrests, mentioning that an entire population cannot be held hostage to the actions of a few.
"How can an entire community be collectively punished for the acts of unknown individuals? These sweeping detentions only breed further alienation and erode any remaining trust," stated Kashmiri politician Ruhullah Mehdi. His words echo the lived experiences of thousands of Kashmiris, who have repeatedly witnessed how the state weaponizes emergency laws to suppress dissent rather than ensure justice.
Not isolated incidents, these detentions are part of a well-documented pattern of repression, where “counterterrorism” serves as a pretext to criminalize Kashmiri identity. For instance, the BJP’s use of vague and unsubstantiated labels such as “OGWs” and "hybrid militants" traps individuals in a system where guilt is presumed without evidence, leaving them with no legal recourse. Detainees are held without charges or trial, in direct violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and UN guidelines on arbitrary detention. This escalation of mass arrests also reflects India’s broader clampdown on Kashmiri media and civic spaces, where their human rights abuses are shielded from international scrutiny.
Justice For All Canada urges the following immediate actions:
- The Government of Canada must publicly condemn this latest abuse of power, and re-evaluate its political and economic engagement with BJP-ruled India in light of its track record of persecution and human rights violations.
- The Government of Canada should apply diplomatic pressure on India to secure the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, an end to the collective punishment of Kashmiris, and adherence to international legal standards in operations by Indian forces.
- The UN should send fact-finding missions to Kashmir and demand transparency regarding the status of detainees. Additionally, the UN must uphold its resolutions regarding Kashmir, and ensure the Kashimiri people’s rights are respected in accordance with international law.
- International media must increase coverage of these human rights violations. Kashmir’s indigenous press remains under severe state-imposed restrictions, making it imperative for global outlets to amplify these stories.
This familiar systematic oppression of Kashmiris constitutes the erasure of an entire people’s rights under the cover of security operations. A failure to respond risks legitimizing state repression and further entrenching instability in the region. Canada must break its silence and hold the BJP accountable.
Sources
Ashiq, Peerzada. “J&K Leaders Decry ‘mass Detentions’ in Kashmir after Kulgam Attack.” The Hindu, 5 Feb. 2025, www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/jk-leaders-decry-mass-detentions-in-kashmir-after-kulgam-attack/article69184757.ece.
Masood, Bashaarat. “‘Not Counter-Terrorism but Collective Retribution’: In Kashmir, Anger Mounts over Mass Detentions in Wake of Ex-Soldier’s Killing.” The Indian Express, 6 Feb. 2025, indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmir-mass-detentions-ex-soldiers-killing-counter-terrorism-9820307/.
The Wire. “Mass Detentions across Kashmir after Ex-Army Soldier Killed in Kulgam.” The Wire: The Wire News India, Latest News,News from India, Politics, External Affairs, Science, Economics, Gender and Culture, The Wire, 4 Feb. 2025, m.thewire.in/article/security/mass-detentions-across-kashmir-after-ex-army-soldier-killed-in-kulgam.
Wani, Fayaz. “Kashmir Leaders Slam Mass Detentions after Kulgam Attack; Call It ‘Collective Retribution.’” The New Indian Express, 6 Feb. 2025, www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/06/kashmir-leaders-slam-mass-detentions-after-kulgam-attack-call-it-collective-retribution.