SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday ordered police to release a prominent Kashmiri human rights activist arrested two months ago on charges of involvement in activities against the public order, saying authorities had no evidence.
Khurram Parvez, 39, coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) has long campaigned against human rights violations committed by state forces in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).
His arrest in September was condemned by human rights groups, as well as the United Nations, who said Parvez's detention was a deliberate attempt by Indian authorities to obstruct his work.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed the detention order against Parvez, saying police had exploited their position and did not have enough evidence to detain the activist.
"What emerges is that the detention of (Parvez) is not only illegal but the detaining authority has abused its powers in ordering his detention," said an order by Justice M.H. Attar.
Police officials declined to comment on the court order and were unwilling to confirm if they would release Parvez.
Parvez was stopped by authorities at New Delhi airport on Sept. 14 when he was on his way to Geneva to attend the U.N. Human Rights Council.
He is currently being held in preventive detention under the highly controversial Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, which allows for people to be held for up to two years without judicial intervention.
But the court said that allegations such as that he was inciting people who were coming out of a mosque to shout slogans were not backed up with any proof.
Dozens of civilians have been killed and thousands wounded in months of clashes between protesters and Indian security forces in occupied Kashmir, sparked by the killing of young Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani in July.
The unrest is the worst in the Muslim-majority region for six years, and critics have accused Indian forces of heavy-handedness as they struggle to contain the protests.