Possible Prolonged Detention of Kashmiri Political Prisoners Due to Pahalgam Incident
Rewritten Article
Al Jazeera: Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir - A Mother's Persistent Hope: The Plight of Political Prisoners
As evening descended upon Srinagar, Shakeela, a mother of five, clung to a sliver of hope. With moist eyes, she remembered that night, hoping it would bring good news about her son, Faizyaab, who had been languishing in an Indian jail for over three years.
That evening in October last year saw Indian-administered Kashmir tallying votes in the regional assembly election. However, the outcome brought little solace to families like Shakeela's, whose loved ones were firmly ensnared in the labyrinth of India's 'anti-terror' laws.
The Echoes of a Contested Past
Faizyaab is one of thousands of Kashmiris who found themselves behind bars as a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government revoking Kashmir's special status in 2019 and bringing it under direct control of the central government. The majority of these detainees are considered political prisoners, charged for presumably aiding armed Kashmiri rebels or engaging in 'antinational' activities such as speaking out or writing against Indian rule.
In the wake of a horrific attack in Pahalgam town that claimed 26 lives last month—the worst violence in nearly a quarter-century—the hopes many Kashmiri families had for the release of their relatives have crumbled.
The Pahalgam attack set off a significant security crackdown by Indian authorities, who have arrested dozens of suspects as part of their manhunt for the perpetrators, intensifying military tensions with neighboring Pakistan.
The Fragile Promise of a New Government
Shakeela has been a prisoner of fear since learning of the Pahalgam attack, worry gnawing at her that a new wave of detentions and harsher crackdowns would be in the offing. With Faizyaab already charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), his chances of release appear increasingly remote.
"The ray of hope I held after the elections for my son's release is rapidly fading due to the Pahalgam attack. I fear things will only get worse, and my son will remain captive for quite some time," said Shakeela, struggling to maintain her composure as tears welled up in her eyes.
A Himalayan Refuge: The disputed, conflicted Kashmir
Claimed by both India and Pakistan, the scenic Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between the two South Asian nations since their independence from British rule in 1947. The two nations have fought three wars over the region. The conflict intensified after an armed rebellion against Indian rule began in 1989, leading to over 40,000 deaths. The assembly elections held in Indian-administered Kashmir last year were the first in a decade—and the first since New Delhi's controversial 2019 move.
Most parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ran on a platform that highlighted the release or transfer of political detainees from prisons within Kashmir to ones within the region, an issue of deep resonance given decades of mass arrests. The elections were seen as an opportunity for Kashmiris to reclaim the democratic rights they believed were eroded after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. Voters responded with a surge in participation, with a 64 percent turnout, higher than the 58.5 percent turnout during the 2024 general elections.
Playing with Emotions, Failing to Deliver
Shakeela placed her trust in the National Conference (NC), a pro-India political party that won 42 out of the 90 assembly seats, forming a government with the aid of allies in early November. Yet, the depth of Shakeela's despair has mounted as there is no clarity on whether Kashmiri political prisoners will be freed.
"It seems to me that they were merely manipulating our emotions for their vote bank," Shakeela said angrily.
Eerily, the sound of a knock on the wooden door of Shakeela's house echoed through the night, as it had on the fateful night of November 7, 2022. A large contingent of police officers stormed inside, rounding up Faizyaab for allegedly associating with a rebel outfit. While Shakeela's family was initially reassured that he would be back in a few days, the days morphed into months and months into years.
Meanwhile, Ishrat in Kashmir's Pulwama district shares the same anxiety, waiting for her 25-year-old brother to return home. Ishrat's brother was arrested under the PSA in 2023 for supposedly being an 'overground' associate of the rebels. The family's attempts to visit him in prison are frustrated by financial constraints, as dozens of Kashmiri detainees have been transferred to prisons beyond the Kashmir Valley.
The Heartache Goes On
For Shakeela and Ishrat, the absence of their loved ones is a constant ache in their lives, painfully evident during family gatherings and religious occasions. They understand the legal process, but despair over the distance that separates them from their sons. Both families feel abandoned by the government that failed to deliver on its promises.
Imran Nabi Dar, NC spokesman, defends the regional government, arguing that impediments like the removal of Kashmir's statehood and control over security matters hinder the fulfillment of their commitments. However, as tensions escalate following the Pahalgam attack and the potential threat of war with Pakistan looms large, many Kashmiris find themselves once again in limbo.
Enrichment Data:
- Overall: The current status of political prisoners in Indian-administered Kashmir remains a significant concern, particularly following the revocation of the region's special status in 2019. After the revocation, thousands of people were detained, including political leaders, activists, and civilians, under various laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)[2][3]. Many of these detainees have been held without trial, with some leaders kept under house arrest[2]. The situation has not improved significantly, with reports indicating that the Indian government continues to exert strict control over dissent and political activities in the region. The criminalization of dissent and the intensification of surveillance have created a challenging environment for political expression[3]. The international community, including human rights organizations, has expressed concern over the lack of accountability for human rights abuses in the region[5]. Calls for the release of political prisoners continue, with various groups and activists demanding an end to the detention of those who were taken into custody after the 2019 revocation. The situation remains tense, with ongoing tensions and repression contributing to the broader conflict in Kashmir[1][4].
- The war-and-conflicts in Kashmir, specifically the Pahalgam attack last month, has shattered the hope of families like Shakeela's, whose loved ones are political prisoners.
- The politics surrounding the detention of political prisoners in Indian-administered Kashmir is a significant part of the general-news narrative, as thousands have been held without trial and under various laws since the region's special status was revoked in 2019.
- The crime-and-justice system in Kashmir is under scrutiny, as the criminalization of dissent and intensification of surveillance create a challenging environment for political expression.
- The recent Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, has further escalated tensions with neighboring Pakistan, resulting in intense military tensions and arrests in the region.
