Human Rights Watch (HRW) has slammed India for its repressive policies in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In its latest report, the global rights body said five years after the revocation of Kashmir's special status in 2019, the territory still suffers from severe restrictions on freedom of speech and association.

The report noted that Kashmiris are unable to exercise their fundamental rights because they fear they will be killed, arrested or thrown in prison without trial for months and years.

It also lamented the arbitrary use of counterterrorism law by Indian authorities to crack down on peaceful critics, journalists, and human rights defenders to silence dissent.