Over 250 activists from across India have signed a statement initiated by the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), condemning the detention of six social and environmental activists in Jammu & Kashmir under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The signatories demand their immediate release, asserting that the detainees were exercising their right to raise ecological concerns, Sabrang India reported.
The detained activists, including Mohammad Abdullah Gujjar, Noor Din, Ghulam Nabi Choppan, Mohammad Jaffer Sheikh, Mohammad Ramzan, and Rehamatullah, were raising issues about the environmental impact of large projects and solid waste management. Prominent supporters include Prof. Roop Rekha Verma, Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Anuradha Bhasin, and Raja Muzaffar Bhatt, among others.
The statement highlights that opposition to hydro-power and large infrastructure projects is widespread across the Himalayan region due to environmental and socio-economic concerns. Clamping down on these movements, the signatories argue, hampers efforts to address the climate crisis.
In recent developments, Rehamatullah, a young activist from Doda, was detained under the PSA on November 9, with authorities alleging connections with militants. His detention came shortly after he made a video of alleged negligence in solid waste management in Doda, sparking allegations of ‘misuse of power’. A local MLA also called it a negligence of the district administration.
The PSA, criticised by rights groups as a “lawless law,” has been used to suppress dissent in Jammu & Kashmir post-Article 370 abrogation.
NAPM and signatories call for the immediate release of the detained activists, urging authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest and protect environmental defenders amidst the ongoing COP29 climate conference.
