Human Rights Watch exposes India’s rights abuses in occupied Kashmir, India
New Delhi: A latest report by Human Rights Watch has highlighted serious human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Ladakh, and across India, saying the BJP-led government has normalised violence, discrimination and repression against religious minorities, marginalised communities and critics.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Human Rights Watch, in its World Report 2026 released the other day, pointed out that in the wake of Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam attack in April 2025 in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian authorities suppressed dissent by briefly blocking some independent media outlets and commentators, arresting people for their social media comments, and filing cases against academics and satirists.
The Human Rights Watch report said there has been an increase in hate speech cases, often linked to Hindutva groups, and attacks against Muslims. “Authorities continued to carry out unlawful demolitions of homes and properties of Muslims, claiming they were built illegally, belonged to alleged militants, or were occupied by ‘illegal immigrants,’ actions that violated a Supreme Court ruling,” the report said.
In Ladakh in September last year, Indian police killed four people after protests for their political rights turned violent. “The Indian government has normalised violence against religious minorities, marginalised groups, and critics through discriminatory policies, hate speech, and politically motivated prosecutions,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of reversing its abusive policies to promote the country as a global voice on human rights, the BJP government has undermined India’s standing around the world.”
In the 529-page World Report 2026, its 36th edition, Human Rights Watch reviewed human rights practices in more than 100 countries.
The report said authorities also shut down mobile internet services and arrested prominent educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in what it termed a politically motivated case under the draconian National Security Act. Several activists and students, the report added, continue to languish in jails without charge under abusive counterterrorism laws.
The report said Indian authorities have increasingly used counterterrorism legislation, foreign funding laws and fabricated financial investigations to harass and prosecute activists, civil society groups and political opponents. It noted that dissent was systematically suppressed following military operations, with arrests over social media posts and pressure on independent media to self-censor.
Expanding on the situation in India, Human Rights Watch said the BJP-led government has vilified religious minorities and expelled hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims and Rohingya refugees in 2025 by branding them “illegal immigrants.” It said authorities carried out unlawful demolitions of Muslim homes and properties, in violation of a Supreme Court ruling, under the pretext of illegality or alleged links to militancy.
“The Indian government has normalised violence against religious minorities, marginalised groups, and critics through discriminatory policies, hate speech, and politically motivated prosecutions,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, adding that such practices have seriously undermined India’s global standing on human rights.
The report also flagged a rise in hate speech linked to Hindutva groups and growing attacks against Muslims and other minorities. It mentioned allegations of bias against the Election Commission, with opposition leaders and rights activists raising concerns over voter fraud and inconsistencies in electoral rolls.
Separately, the report cited a recent incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district where a Muslim school headmaster was suspended following allegations by a BJP leader that he forced students to offer prayers. Independent investigations later found the claims to be false, with Hindu teachers and students defending the headmaster and confirming that the National Anthem was sung daily at the school.
Human Rights Watch urged Indian authorities to end discriminatory policies, stop the use of hate speech and unlawful actions against Muslims, Christians and other minorities, and immediately drop all politically motivated charges against activists, critics and peaceful protesters.
