By Azad Essa and Shaheryar Mirza
The Indian government has suspended the passports of several Kashmiris, including journalists, in what observers describe as an unprecedented move to stifle dissent in the region.
Several Kashmiris living either in Indian-controlled Kashmir or overseas told Middle East Eye that they have received emails from the Indian government, over the past 10 days, notifying them that their passports had been suspended.
The regional passport office in Srinagar referred to Section 10(3) of The Passports Act, 1967, with the claim that the affected parties were a threat to Indian security.
However, those impacted told MEE that there were no outstanding charges against them.
Sources told MEE that at least 10 people, including Kashmiri academics, students and journalists, in Indian-controlled Kashmir and abroad, had received notices within the past two weeks.
They said that they expect around 70-90 people to lose their passports, if not more.
With most recipients of the emails unwilling to speak publicly on the record, fearing further reprisals from the state, and the foreign ministry remaining tightlipped, MEE is unable to independently verify the scale of the operation…
This story was originally published in middleeasteye.net. Read the full story here