CPI (M) on Tuesday described the restrictions on the movement of political leaders and activists in Kashmir as “arbitrary and unlawful.”
In a statement, the party said even those politicians who have been released from detention centers in the recent months, were being denied permission to meet visitors and were barred from moving out of their residences. “This is highly unfortunate,” said the statement.
It said the leaders of National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, CPI (M), Peoples Conference, J&K People’s Movement and other parties have been subjected to unlawful restrictions since 5 August, 2019.
“Under which law these restrictions are being imposed? The house detentions without any administrative orders amount to undermining human rights and individual liberty,” said the statement.
It said there were reports that some persons were being kept under detention in some police stations without FIRs or any formal charges for several days.
“This is nothing but coercive use of authority. There should be rule of law but instead the laws are being flouted by the administration,” said the statement.
It said repressive and arbitrary measures were part of the BJP government’s wider politics of silencing dissent.
“Freedom of thought, belief and expression are fundamental rights in any democracy. To put restrictions on the movement of political leaders is to betray the constitution and democracy,” said the statement.