Jammu, In a move that has drawn criticism and further highlighted the contentious use of India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charge-sheeted two Kashmiris in a special court in Jammu, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The individuals are being prosecuted in what has been described as false cases due to their alleged connections with the Kashmir freedom movement.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the charge-sheet pertains to cases registered in the Islamabad district of the territory, accusing Muhammad Akbar Dar and Ghulam Nabi Dar, both residents of Kokernag, of affiliations with the movement seeking autonomy or independence for Kashmir. The use of the UAPA, a law that has been widely criticized for its broad definitions of terrorism and its application against political activists and dissenters, underlines the ongoing legal and human rights concerns in the region.
The prosecution of these two individuals under the UAPA is seen by many as part of a broader strategy to suppress voices advocating for Kashmiri self-determination and to criminalize the freedom movement. This latest legal action by the NIA continues to raise questions about the fairness and impartiality of the justice system in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, especially in cases involving political and civil rights activists.