The Indian army initiated an investigation [5] Dec. 26 into the deaths of three civilians [6] in the Poonch district of Jammu & Kashmir territory. The individuals—Mohammad Ishaq, Zahid Iqbal and Shakir Ahmed—were reportedly in army custody following a militant attack [7] on Dec. 21 that claimed the lives of four soldiers. The incident has stirred outrage and protests in the the already volatile region.
In the aftermath of the Dec. 21 attack, the army detained civilians from Topa Pir village in Poonch for questioning. Residents allege [8] that the civilians were arbitrarily picked up and denied communication with their families. The bodies of three of those detained were discovered under mysterious circumstances near the Pakistan border on Dec. 22.
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) condemned [10] the incident, urging the Indian government to prioritize civilian protection and hold security forces accountable. The NCM also demanded a report on the killings. Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti also criticized [11] the government over the incident.
While the Indian government expressed regret for the loss of life and promised a thorough investigation, initial statements defended the army's actions and attributed the deaths to natural causes. Protests have erupted [12] in Poonch and other parts of Jammu & Kashmir, with demonstrators demanding justice for the deceased and condemning the alleged brutality of the army. (Jurist [13])
The killings come amid a widening crackdown in Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a ban [14] Dec. 27 on the Masarat Alam faction of the Jammu & Kashmir Muslim League (MLJK-MA) for a five-year period under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) [15], in an effort to curb "secessionist activities." (Jurist [16])
The MHA on Dec. 31 banned [17] the separatist party Tehreek-e-Hurriayt (TeH) as an "unlawful association" under the UAPA, similarly for five years. The ministry says the ban was imposed in response to TeH’s engagement in "fomenting terrorism" and disseminating "anti-India propaganda."
TeH was founded by late separatist leaders Syed Shah Geelani [18] and Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai in 2004 after Geelani's former party, Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir, was banned [19] in 2019 by the Indian government. (Jurist [20])
