UN body warns India over atrocities against minorities, Kashmiris

NEW YORK: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a warning to India over atrocities against minorities and Kashmiris, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

The UN human rights’ commission in its annual report strongly criticised New Delhi over suppressing rights of minorities and citizens of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmirs and minorities were being harassed while the Muslim minority was mainly targeted in India, the report said.

The commission witnessed a rise in harassment incidents against Muslims and other minorities in India. New Delhi has been demanded to ensure the provision of equivalent rights to citizens belonging to the minority community, the report stated.

According to statistics gathered specifically from Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the oppressive moves of New Delhi administration surged in February this year after Pulwama attack as 27 Kashmiris were martyred during the last month while 184 left seriously wounded following the firing of bullets, pellet guns and tear gas shells by Indian troops and police personnel against peaceful protesters, stated the report released by Kashmir Media Service (KMS).

Around 45 Kashmiris lost their lives in different actions of state-terrorism by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir during the last two months since commencement of 2019. Moreover, more than 310 citizens were seriously wounded and 774 civilians including Hurriyet leaders were detained by Indian authorities.