Indian soldiers are not prosecuted for abuses in Kashmir

None of the members of Indian security forces engaged in human rights violations in Muslim-populated Kashmir were taken to court.

Amnesty International released a report on Wednesday revealing that in every case brought against members of the army or paramilitary forces their prosecution was denied according to the “Armed Forces Special Powers Act”. The AFSPA gives thousands of soldiers and paramilitary personnel sweeping powers to shoot on sight, detain suspects without trial and seize property without being charged with any crimes.

According to, an uncle of 17-year-old victim of the army, Mohammad Amin Magray, the army kills people adn violates human rights, because they know that they will not be charged, or prosecuted, or go to court, otherwise “they would think ten times before they pull their triggers on an innocent”. He adds, “The AFSPA is like a blank cheque from the government of India to kill innocents like my nephew.”

Local rights activist Parveena Ahanger says that India tormented over 100.000 people, whereas around 8.000 went missing after being take into custody. He also says that in the absence of the AFSPA soldiers involved in the crimes would have been tried in local courts instead of “unreliable” and “dishonest” Indian military courts.