Amnesty International (AI) has called on Indian authorities to stop using travel bans and arbitrary detentions under the anti-terror laws to intimidate critical, dissenting voices from speaking out on deteriorating situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

According to Kashmir Media Service, Amnesty International’s representative, Aakar Patel, chairing the board meeting at Amnesty India, said, the escalating repression of human rights, following India's revocation of the special autonomous status of the region has resulted in arbitrary detentions.

He referred to revocation of passports, the creation of opaque ‘no flying lists’, the denial of entry into India and arbitrary cancellations of Overseas Citizenship of Indians, who raised voice against the repression.

First phase of so-called elections for Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was held on Wednesday, amid widespread reports of repression.