New York-based rights organisation, Human Rights Watch in its latest report has painted a grim picture of human rights in occupied Kashmir. 

The HRW in its annual report-2017 recently released said Indian government failed to review and repeal draconian law Armed Forces Special Powers Act in occupied Kashmir that gives soldiers who commit violations effective immunity from prosecution. 

The report said Armed Forces Tribunal order in July last year, suspending life sentences of five army personnel who were convicted in 2014 for extrajudicial killing of three civilians in a fake encounter in Machil in 2010 as setback for accountability for abuses by the forces’ personnel.

It also said clashes between the protesters and Indian forces in the occupied territory that began in July 2016 continued throughout 2017, leading to frequent closing of schools and colleges.

The report also mentioned the internet shutdowns in occupied Kashmir.

Meanwhile, in occupied Kashmir, two civilians were killed and several others injured after Indian troops opened fire on peaceful protesters in Ganowpora area of Shopian district, today.

The troops resorted to indiscriminate firing on demonstrators, who were protesting against the recent killing of three youth by the troops, injuring several of them.