Struggles in Kashmir concealed by restrictions and power outages
In Indian-administered Kashmir, the people face ongoing civil rights concerns and challenges under a stringent security framework. This article explores the significant issues affecting Kashmiris, including restrictions on freedom of expression, access to information, communication blackouts, legal and security frameworks, impacts on education, and daily life under heavy military presence.
Restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information have been a pressing concern. The Indian government in Kashmir has banned 25 books by prominent writers, academics, and historians, accusing them of spreading “false narratives” and inciting separatism. Police raids on bookshops enforcing this ban have raised serious concerns about censorship, limiting access to diverse perspectives in educational and public discourse.
Communication blackouts and disruptions are another major challenge. Frequent internet and phone shutdowns, especially around political anniversaries or protests, severely impact daily life. These blackouts disrupt healthcare services, emergency coordination, and isolate families, undermining basic rights to communication and access to information.
The legal and security framework in Kashmir enables detentions and restrictions. Laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA) permit security forces to carry out extended detentions without trial and impose restrictions on assembly and public expression. Arbitrary arrests and limited legal transparency have been documented by human rights organizations.
The impact on education is substantial. Educational institutions and students face indirect effects from censorship and civil restrictions, as the suppression of literature and academic works undermines academic freedom and intellectual debate. Educators have criticized the book ban for eroding access to multiple viewpoints critical for learning.
Daily life under heavy military presence and surveillance creates an environment of fear and limits normal social and political activity for Kashmiri civilians. A persistent heavy military and police presence, coupled with strict controls on assemblies and protests, restricts daily life and normal social and political activities.
Activists also highlight the generational trauma experienced by women, who often shoulder the role of both caregiver and advocate for missing or detained relatives. The economic impact is also significant, with the Kashmir economy, once bolstered by tourism, continuing to suffer from the combined effects of security concerns and travel advisories issued by multiple foreign governments.
In conclusion, these factors reflect significant ongoing challenges to the civil rights of Kashmiris under the current Indian security framework. Human rights groups and civil society strongly criticize these measures as authoritarian and damaging to the region's social and political fabric. The ongoing situation in Kashmir intersects with broader debates about freedom of expression, civilian rights in conflict zones, and the role of digital connectivity in modern governance.
References: [1] Human Rights Watch. (2021). India: Kashmir's Internet Shutdowns Harm Rights. https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/02/india-kashmir-internet-shutdowns-harm-rights
[2] Amnesty International. (2021). India: Kashmir: End Cycle of Impunity. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/07/india-kashmir-end-cycle-of-impunity/
[3] The Guardian. (2021). Kashmir book bans: Arundhati Roy's 'Azadi' among 25 titles banned in Indian-administered Kashmir. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/29/kashmir-book-bans-arundhati-roys-azadi-among-25-titles-banned-in-indian-administered-kashmir
[4] Al Jazeera. (2021). India's Kashmir: How the new normal is killing tourism. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/7/14/indias-kashmir-how-the-new-normal-is-killing-tourism
[5] BBC News. (2021). Kashmir: Peaceful protests mark six years since Article 370 revoked. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58080189
- The Indian government in Kashmir, beyond banning books, has imposed restrictions on communication, leading to frequent internet and phone shutdowns that disrupt healthcare services, emergency coordination, and isolate families.
- The legal and security framework in Kashmir, with laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA), allows for extended detentions without trial and restricts assembly and public expression.
- In addition to the challenges faced by Kashmiris in their daily lives, there are significant concerns about the impact on education, as censorship and civil restrictions undermine academic freedom and intellectual debate.
- Activists also focus on mental health and women's health, highlighting the generational trauma experienced by women in Kashmir, who often shoulder the role of caregiver and advocate for missing or detained relatives, and the economic impact on Kashmir's economy, particularly in the once-thriving tourism sector.
