In January 2026, Indian authorities continued to commit grave human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir. Indian forces killed at least one person. Indian authorities continued their ongoing systematic campaigns of mass detention and collective punishment through raids, cordon-and-search operations (CASOs) and employment terminations. Indian authorities escalated their crackdown on virtual private network (VPN) use, targeting at least 1,100 people. Indian authorities escalated their repression of Muslim religious institutions and people affiliated with them through a new, extensive surveillance program. Indian authorities continued to intimidate Kashmiri journalists for their reporting, summoning at least six for interrogations.
Thousands of Kashmiri political prisoners continue to be arbitrarily detained, including: human rights defender Khurram Parvez—illegally imprisoned for over four years (1,556 days), journalist Irfan Mehraj—illegally imprisoned for almost three years (1,072 days), human rights lawyer Mian Abdul Qayoom—illegally imprisoned for over 20 months (610 days), and scholar Shafat Wani—illegally imprisoned for almost a year (321 days).