J&K rights forum seeks restoration of Statehood and stronger safeguards

The Story in Brief

The Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir has called for restoring full Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, repealing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, and granting Statehood and Sixth Schedule protection to Ladakh. Its seventh annual report also seeks police reforms and a human rights commission for Ladakh. The forum says lower militancy has not restored democratic governance or civil liberties. Frontline reports 20 militant incidents and 32 deaths during its review period, with no civilian deaths, but cites concerns over detentions, anti-terror laws, movement restrictions and internet shutdowns.

The Hindu reports that the forum linked a 2025 Red Fort attack, which killed eight civilians, to renewed homegrown militancy and cited around 500 detentions. Frontline instead describes a November 2025 attack that killed 13 people and says more than 2,000 suspected overground workers were detained. Both accounts report criticism of police coordination and urge review of PSA and UAPA cases. The forum also points to Jammu and Kashmir High Court rulings that quashed detention orders and granted bail.