Srinagar: The government of India has introduced three new criminal laws in the region known as Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which took effect on July 1, 2024. These legal changes have been met with significant apprehension from both local residents and international observers.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the newly implemented laws—amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC), and Indian Evidence Act—are seen as efforts to tighten control over the pro-freedom movements within the territory. The introduction of these laws without the consent of the Kashmiri populace, who have historically advocated for self-determination, is viewed as a move to further integrate the region under Indian authority and suppress local rights.

The reaction from the global community has included calls for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and a cessation of the ongoing human rights abuses reported in the area. The imposition of these laws is feared to exacerbate the already tense situation in Kashmir, highlighting the complex and fraught dynamics of governance and resistance in the region.