Mon Aug 04 17:40:46 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article based on the information:

**Summary:**

An independent human rights forum in Jammu & Kashmir has released its annual report, criticizing the J&K Police for inciting hate speech and actions against Kashmiris following the Pahalgam terror attack. The report claims the police incorrectly identified the terrorists as Kashmiris, leading to widespread backlash, despite later clarification from the NIA that they were Pakistani. The forum also alleges inaction from the Union Home Ministry in preventing the backlash. Furthermore, the report highlights security lapses in preventing the Pahalgam attack and criticizes the government’s handling of “Operation Sindoor,” particularly the lack of civilian evacuation. The report concludes that the sweeping detentions and application of stringent laws amount to collective punishment and criticizes the Transaction of Business Rules, which it says marginalizes the elected administration by centralizing power with the Lieutenant-Governor.

**News Article:**

**J&K Police’s “Hasty” Terrorist ID Incited Anti-Kashmiri Hate, Says Rights Forum**

**Srinagar -** In a scathing report released today, the Forum for Human Rights in J&K, co-chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Madan B. Lokur and former Kashmir interlocutor Radha Kumar, accused the Jammu & Kashmir Police of fueling hate speech and discriminatory actions against Kashmiris in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack last month.

The report, issued on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, alleges that the J&K Police’s initial, incorrect identification of the Pahalgam terrorists as Kashmiris sparked a wave of backlash, including online trolling, arrests, and even illegal demolitions.

“It also created a permissive environment for hate speech and actions… By the time the NIA (National Investigation Agency) clarified the terrorists were all Pakistani, one month later, considerable damage had been done,” the report stated. The report alleges that even senior military officials were targets of online harassment for supporting a ceasefire.

The forum criticized the Union Home Ministry for failing to take preventative action to protect Kashmiris and Muslims from the anticipated backlash, contrasting it with past interventions.

The report also highlighted security failures related to the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives, criticizing the lack of a general advisory warning residents and tourists of potential risks in crowded areas.

Furthermore, the forum condemned the government’s handling of “Operation Sindoor,” particularly the failure to evacuate civilians from border areas amidst cross-border firing. The report also criticized the mass detention of approximately 2,800 people and the use of Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges against over 100 individuals, calling it a form of collective punishment.

The forum also took aim at the new Transaction of Business Rules, claiming they undermine the elected administration by concentrating power in the hands of the Lieutenant-Governor. “These rules nullify the rights of the people to representative and accountable governance,” the report concluded.

The report is likely to further escalate tensions surrounding the human rights situation in Jammu & Kashmir. The J&K Police and the Union Home Ministry have yet to respond to the allegations.

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