Office of Kashmir’s major pro-freedom group seized by Indian state

On 28th January, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) sealed the office of one of the factions of the major pro-freedom organization, Hurriyat Conference, after a court in New Delhi ruled that the group’s “anti-India” activities, a state euphemism for self-determination activism, warrants the confiscation of the office^[24].

The court further stated that among the so-called evidence, one of the allegations is that the office of Hurriyat was the place where meetings were held by pro-freedom activists, this is the flimsy ground on the basis of which the confiscation was legitimized.

Previously, on December 23rd, 2022, the Indian state had seized the property of Syed Ali Geelani, deceased pro-freedom leader, in Srinagar. Three properties belonging to the banned socio-religious welfare organization Jamaat-e Islami (JeI) were sealed. These properties included two storied residential structures registered in the name of Geelani^[25].

The Indian investigation agencies have identified more than 188 properties of pro-freedom activists and organizations that would be seized in a phased manner^[26].

[24] https://freepresskashmir.news/2023/01/29/nia-seizes-hurriyat-office-in-srinagar/

[25] https://www.ibtimes.co.in/after-sealing-geelanis-house-hurriyat-office-srinagar-be-attached-under-uapa-details-856229

[26] https://www.voanews.com/a/india-seizes-properties-worth-millions-in-kashmir-/6894582.html