Report on the Concerned Citizens’ Group (CCG) Findings on Jammu and Kashmir

Introduction

The Concerned Citizens’ Group (CCG) conducted its eleventh fact-finding mission in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), producing a report that sheds light on the lived realities of the region under Indian administration. The report corroborates long-standing concerns about military occupation, systemic marginalization, and the suppression of dissent.

Governance and Political Structure

The report identifies J&K as operating under a “colonial-type diarchy,” with elected representatives reduced to ceremonial roles while real power rests with the Lieutenant Governor, a central government appointee. The system undermines democratic governance and mirrors historical colonial administrative practices.

Read more: Frigid Nights, Shattered Homes: The Cruelest Spectacle of Rendering Kashmiris Homeless in the Snow

Demographic and Economic Manipulation

The report highlights policies perceived as demographic engineering:

• Reservation policies disproportionately favoring Jammu over Kashmir (e.g., 99% of SC and 87% of ST certificates issued in Jammu).

• Land and domicile laws enabling non-Kashmiris to settle and acquire political influence.
  Economically, local communities face systemic marginalization through the denial of infrastructure and commercial rights, resulting in losses such as ₹2,000 crore to orchardists post-Pahalgam floods.

Media Repression and Freedom of Expression

Journalists are subjected to scrutiny, intimidation, and arrests. Cases such as Irfan Mehraj’s prolonged detention illustrate the suppression of dissent. The report documents the state’s efforts to control narratives and criminalize political activism.

Youth Resistance and Political Awakening

The report observes growing political consciousness among Kashmiri youth, framed by the state as “radicalization.” Activists view these developments as resistance to systemic oppression, rather than extremism. Cultural protests, such as the boycott of events perceived as disrespectful to local traditions, are highlighted as political acts.

Judicial and Political Failures

The report criticizes the Indian judiciary for legitimizing the demotion of J&K to Union Territory status and failing to enforce constitutional protections. Political promises of restoring statehood are described as insincere, intended primarily to pacify international opinion.

International Implications and Calls for Action

While the report documents violations of rights and freedoms, it also urges international engagement:

• Submission of evidence to UN Special Rapporteurs and the International Criminal Court.

• Advocacy for sanctions against officials implicated in human rights abuses.

• Amplifying global awareness through solidarity and advocacy campaigns.

Conclusion

The CCG report provides an insider perspective on the systemic occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. It underscores the need for international intervention, protection of human rights, and the amplification of Kashmiri voices. The report is both a documentation of ongoing abuses and a call to action for accountability, justice, and the right to self-determination.