Statement on Torture and Extrajudicial Killings in Kashmir

February 18, 2025
Statements

Justice For All Statement on Torture and Extrajudicial Killings in Kashmir

February 18, 2025

Justice For All condemns the systematic torture and extrajudicial killings in Kashmir, which represent a severe escalation of state violence aimed at silencing dissent and suppressing the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The recent revelations by The Caravan Magazine surrounding Operation Pangai—a military operation conducted in December 2023—shed light on a horrifying campaign of abuse under the direct command of senior Indian military officers, including Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain and Major General Maneesh Gupta. The operation, initially presented as an effort to capture militants following an ambush on an army convoy in Poonch, instead devolved into a widespread and brutal campaign of collective punishment.

The incident, which took place between December 21 and 22, 2023, led to the torture of at least 25 civilians and the extrajudicial killings of three individuals—Shaukat Hussain, Safeer Ahmed, and Shabeer Hussain. These men were rounded up across the Rajouri and Poonch districts and subjected to severe forms of torture, including beatings, electrocution, the use of chili powder, and drowning. Witnesses describe seeing bodies mutilated beyond recognition, with one victim, Safeer Ahmed, reportedly returned to his family with his neck broken and deep gashes across his forehead. These acts of violence were not random; they were orchestrated and carried out with the apparent approval of senior military officers, as evidenced by leaked documents, WhatsApp messages, and testimonies from survivors. The brutality displayed in these acts underscores the deliberate and coordinated nature of the operation.

The military’s actions during Operation Pangai are a part of a broader pattern of repression in Kashmir, where security forces have routinely used torture as a tool to break the will of the local population. This practice of custodial torture is not an isolated event, but rather part of a systemic strategy designed to intimidate, humiliate, and suppress any form of dissent or demand for self-determination. The Indian government’s use of torture violates fundamental human rights and international legal norms, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which unequivocally bans torture under all circumstances. India has not ratified the UN Convention Against Torture in order to persist with its use in Kashmir with impunity.

In response to these grave human rights violations, Justice For All calls for urgent and immediate action from the international community. We urge the United Nations to send an independent fact-finding mission to Kashmir to investigate the scale and scope of the torture and killings, particularly the involvement of senior military officers like Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain and Major General Maneesh Gupta. We also call for the imposition of targeted sanctions on these individuals, as well as any other military personnel found responsible for these abuses, under the UN’s sanction regime. These sanctions should be enforced without delay to hold perpetrators accountable and deter future abuses.

Furthermore, we call on the U.S. government to take immediate action under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and impose sanctions on the individuals responsible for these atrocities. The U.S. must stand firm against India’s use of torture and extrajudicial killings in Kashmir, sending a strong message that such violations will not be tolerated.

The failure to respond to these abuses risks further entrenching a climate of impunity, where security forces can commit atrocities with no fear of reprisal. Justice For All also calls for the international community to support efforts to repeal or reform laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which grants security forces sweeping powers and shields them from accountability. The widespread use of AFSPA in Kashmir has facilitated a culture of unaccountability, enabling military personnel to act with impunity.

Finally, Justice For All urges the United Nations to reinforce its commitment to the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people. The people of Kashmir have been subjected to decades of repression, and it is essential that their voices are heard and their rights are respected in accordance with international law.

We also call upon global media outlets to continue providing coverage of the ongoing situation in Kashmir. The Indian government has heavily censored local reporting and restricted the flow of information, making it difficult for the world to fully comprehend the extent of the abuses taking place in the region. The international community must remain vigilant and hold accountable those responsible for the suffering of the Kashmiri people.

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