MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Indian authorities have taken multiple people into custody across several states, accusing them of having connections to Pakistan and making controversial statements about recent military tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Among those detained are a female travel vlogger and a university professor, according to reports in Indian media.
These arrests were made after recent tensions arose between India and Pakistan due to clashes bordering each nation. Law enforcers claimed they detained the individuals based on ‘information and evidence’ from ongoing investigations into those activities.
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who teaches at Ashoka University, was detained from his home in Delhi. It was reported that the arrest was connected to his comments about India’s military operations he made on social media. An activist in the ruling party filed a complaint about the professor which led to police action.
Civil society and supporters of free expression have condemned the Indian academic’s imprisonment for a social media post that criticised media briefings on a recent military action against Pakistan.
Local media reported that Ali Khan Mahmudabad was arrested in New Delhi on Sunday following an allegation made by a youth leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mahmudabad was detained on charges of enmity, inciting rebellion, and offending religious sentiments, according to the police. He criticised the use of military optics and expressed concerns about sectarian violence and the persecution of minorities in India in a Facebook post that led to the allegations.
In a separate case, Jyoti Malhotra, who is from Hisar and has a famous YouTube channel, has been arrested on several charges related to espionage.
Authorities claim she was gathering and sharing sensitive information, though specific details of the allegations have not been made public. She was taken into custody from her residence following what police described as a coordinated operation.
Those who stand for the accused suspects claim that the allegations made by the prosecution are serious, as the charges involve mixing people from different communities and threatening national security. At this time, authorities are examining digital evidence, as well as other things involved in the cases.
Against the backdrop of strained ties between India and Pakistan, security alerts and extra surveillance remain high all along the borders. Local organizations involved in human rights have urged transparency in this case, emphasising the need for due process in such sensitive cases.
