The targeting of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) by National Investigation Agency (NIA): An update

Aug 01, 2025
By PUCL Editorial Team

The arrest of Khurram Parvez and the targeting of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) points to a troubling inflection point in the history of human rights violations in Kashmir. For the first time, organisations are being targeted for their published and public human rights work. It is troubling that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has cited two published and publicly available human rights reports as evidence that the JKCSS was promoting secessionism and tarnishing India’s image under the garb of human rights work in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). By doing so, the NIA is criminalising fact-finding which is one of the means through which human rights groups try to make the state accountable. This has serious implications for all human rights work. Under this false case of targeting a brave human rights defender, Khurram Parvez has now spent over three and half years in jail.

The second UAPA case under which Khurram Parvez is charged pertains to an alleged conspiracy to recruit persons across various states of India including but not limited to Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi, etc. for committing various illegal acts in India. According to the complaint, they are engaged in gathering intelligence on Vital Installations, Security Forces/Security Agencies of India as well as Identification of target locations for launching of terrorist attacks etc.

The other case pending against Khurram Parvez pertains to 2016, when there was violent unrest in Kashmir after the security forces killed a young Hizbul Mujahideen commander named Burhan Wani. Khurram was accused in four cases of rioting, unlawful assembly, hurting a public servant, and endangering human life and the personal safety of others and a preventive detention order was slapped on him. These cases continue as well.

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights have raised concerns about the current arrest and detention of Khurram Parvez under the UAPA and called on the Indian authorities to safeguard his rights to freedom of expression, association and personal liberty. UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, said, “The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society carries out essential work monitoring human rights. Their research and analysis of human rights violations are of huge value, including to international organisations seeking to ensure accountability and non-repetition of abuses.”

Human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have called on the government of India to immediately and unconditionally release him and drop the baseless charges that have been brought against him. They have urged the Indian authorities to publicly recognise human rights defenders and their important work in the region and put an end to their criminalisation. We also urge the government to stop using draconian national security and counter-terrorism laws to target and harass human rights defenders and other critics of the government and call for a thorough review of the UAPA to align its laws with India’s obligations under international human rights law.

PUCL also demands that the prosecution against Khurram Parvez and journalist Irfan Mehraj be withdrawn and the lawful and constitutional work of human rights defenders be protected.

We are providing below a status update on the false cases against Khurram Parvez, Irfan Mehraj and others.

1. Case No.1: Case number 37/2020 registered at NIA, New Delhi

Allegation:

Under the garb of reporting of alleged human rights violations, Khurram Parvez and Parvez Imroz and other members of JKCCS organized several secessionist programs/events, published fake one-sided narratives to create, sustain and spread disaffection, hatred and enmity against the Indian State. This was done to garner international support and put pressure on Government of India to accede to demand of secession of Kashmir from India. Specific reports of JKCCS identified as containing false narratives, disinformation, and part of “Information Warfare”: Structures of Violence (2015) and Torture (2019). Specific programmes include: Peoples Vision program (Civil society platform to question political leaders), Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir (Cultural event), Wither Kashmir (Seminar), Campaign to ban Land Mine use, Campaign against use of Pellet Guns, and other seminars/programmes held. One of the objectives of JKCCS is identified to be the highlighting of Kashmir issue at the international level under the garb of human rights reporting to seek international support. Investigations identify International NGO’s promoting secession of Kashmir, including Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), Philippines, Inter-Church Peace Council (IKV), Netherlands and Stand with Kashmir. These NGOs have been disseminating anti-India sentiments at international fora and advocating secession of Kashmir from India and also endorsed fabricated reports published by JKCCS. JKCCS, particularly Khurram Parvez, supported by local and international anti-national actors raised funding for furthering of secessionist agenda and to promote the larger interests of terrorist organization, Hizbul Mujahideen and the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC). Illegal foreign funding was received through complex financial network and utilized for furtherance of activities of terrorist organizations. Funds were distributed to families of active and killed cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen as a part of “financial support schemes” run by terror outfits. Funds were also distributed to youth to further stone pelting activities.

Sections of law: Section 120-B (Conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code and 13 (Unlawful activities), 17 (Funding for terrorist act), 18 (Conspiracy to commit terrorist act), 18B (Recruitment for terrorist act), 39 (offences relating to support to terrorist organization) and 40 (Raising funds for terrorist organization) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act

Maximum punishment: Life imprisonment

Case status:

  • Chargesheet dated 15.09.2023 filed against three persons: Khurram Parvez (Programme Coordinator, JKCCS and Chairperson, AFAD), Irfan Mehraj (ex volunteer/researcher, JKCCS) and Ghulam Hassan Ganai @ Hasan-ul-Bana (identified as “Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist” and “Convenor APHC (Pakistan Occupied Faction”)). Khurram Parvez and Irfan Mehraj are in custody whereas the third accused person is identified as “absconding”.
  • Out of 17 NGO’s identified originally by the NIA, JKCCS is the only NGO chargesheeted thus far.
  • Case remains under investigation, particularly against Advocate Parvez Imroz, President, JKCCS and Natasha Rather, ex volunteer/associate at JKCCS and AFAD.
  • The case is listed for arguments on charge and on bail applications of Khurram parvez and Irfan Mehraj

2. Case no.2: Case number 30/2021 registered at NIA, New Delhi

Allegation: The accused persons in the instant case along with their associates have been running a network of OGWs of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and they hatched a conspiracy to recruit persons across various states of India including but not limited to Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi etc. for committing various illegal acts in India. In pursuance to the said conspiracy, these accused persons and their associates are in contact with their foreign based handlers and upon their directions they are engaged in gathering intelligence on Vital Installations, Security Forces/Security Agencies of India as well as Identification of target locations for launching of terrorist attacks etc. The information is passed to the LeT leadership based in foreign countries through internet based encrypted communication platforms. They are receiving terror fund from handlers abroad and are operating multiple pseudonymous bank accounts to channelize and further distribute these funds to India based operatives / OGWs for furtherance of terrorist activities.

Sections of law: Section 120-B (Conspiracy), 121A (Conspiracy to wage war) of Indian Penal Code and 17 (Funding for terrorist act), 18 (Conspiracy to commit terrorist act), 18B (Recruitment for terrorist act), 38 (offences relating to membership of terrorist organization) and 39 (offences relating to support to terrorist organization) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Maximum punishment: Life imprisonment

Case status:

  • Chargesheet dated 13.05.2022 filed against seven arrested persons (three persons have been granted bail). Khurram Parvez is the only person from JKCCS chargesheeted in this case.
  • Case is posted for hearing on pending applications and the charges to be framed for trial