Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan rearrested hours after release from five-year imprisonment

After spending five years in jail as an undertrial prisoner under baseless anti-terror charges, Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan was released, only to be rearrested in a case of alleged “unlawful activities” filed by police in Jammu and Kashmir.

Over the past few years, several Kashmiri journalists have been harassed and arrested for reporting on the Indian military’s brutal repression of civilians. In 2022, Fahad Shah, editor-in-chief of Kashmir Walla, a local magazine, was arrested and released after spending 658 days in jail. Sajad Gul, a trainee reporter for Kashmir Walla, was also arrested, for posting a video clip about a protest in Kashmir. In 2017, India’s federal investigative agency arrested photojournalist Kamran Yusuf, who was released on bail a year later. 

80-year-old Muslim man acquitted due to lack of evidence after years in jail

A court in Rajasthan state acquitted an 80-year-old Muslim man, Abdul Karim Tunda for his involvement in the 1993 serial blasts case, due to lack of evidence. Two other accused, Irfan (70) and Hameeduddin (44), have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Tunda was arrested by Indian authorities in 2013. Following his arrest, he faced a slew of charges related to terrorism. 

Hindu militants organize rally against love jihad in BJP-ruled Assam

In far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Assam’s Haflong, Hindu extremists from the militant group Vishwa Hindu Parishad organized a massive rally against “love jihad”. Love jihad is an anti-Muslim conspiracy that claims Muslim men have an agenda to seduce and convert Hindu women. Despite being debunked, the conspiracy remains a rallying point for Hindu extremists against Muslims.