Amnesty International has temporarily shuttered offices across India over safety concerns. The group also faces criminal charges over allegations by Hindu nationalists that it gave a platform to Kashmir secessionists.
An FIR was registered on Monday against Amnesty International India under various IPC sections, including sedition, in connection with alleged raising of “independence” slogans by “pro-freedom” Kashmiris who entered into heated arguments with a Kashmiri Pandit leader for hailing Indian Army.
A police official involved in the investigation said that a First Information Report has been registered and investigations will proceed.
The FIR has been registered under IPC sections– 142 (being member of an unlawful assembly), 143 (whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), he said.
The rights group had organised a panel discussion where a few people were allegedly heard saying slogans about independence for Kashmir.
A few Kashmiri students and activists got into heated arguments with those who supported the federal rule and Indian military in the troubled state.
A student body affiliated to the ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party staged a protest against the discussion and lodged a police complaint.
Amnesty India executive director Aakar Patel said: “Merely organising an event to defend constitutional values is now being branded ‘anti-India’ and criminalised.”
Amnesty says it is yet to receive a copy of the charges from the police, stating the Bengaluru police were informed and were present at the event.
The discussion by Amnesty India was organised as part of a campaign to seek justice for “victims of Human rights violations” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Over the past month, the north Indian state has been in the grip of violence and trouble.