Parvez Imroz - Detained While Monitoring 2009 Elections

Detained While Monitoring 2009 Elections

Parvez Imroz, along with two other human rights defenders - Firdouz Ahmed Sofi and Aijaz Ahmed Mir - were apparently arbitrarily detained at Bandipura on 17 November 2009, where they were monitoring polling during elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The three were detained when they were involved, on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), in monitoring of the polling at Bandipura Elections to the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, which were being held in seven phases till 24 December 2009.

Amnesty International reported that he spoke to them from the Bandipora police station where he and the two others were held, and said that they were detained after paramilitary forces and police personnel baton-charged a demonstration by around 100 persons, mostly women, who were protesting against the elections while he and others were witnessing the demonstration; he and six persons including a photojournalist sustained injuries in the baton charge; he received a blow on his head as he was dragged. While the others were shifted to hospital, he and the two other human rights defenders were detained and taken to the police station.

Amnesty International called on the authorities in India and Jammu and Kashmir to:

1) immediately release the three human rights defenders - Pervez Imroz, Firdouz Ahmed Sofi and Aijaz Ahmed Mir; 2) initiate a prompt, independent and impartial inquiry into all complaints and reports of harassment, arbitrary detentions and violations of the rights of human rights defenders, in Bandipora, make the results public and make those responsible for such violations, including those who ordered or acquiesced, accountable for their actions; 3) take steps to ensure take steps to ensure that it is possible for human rights defenders to carry out their tasks without fear of harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention.

He has filed thousands of habeas corpus actions on behalf of families who claimed their relatives had vanished while in the custody of the Indian security forces.