US urges Indian govt to release political leaders detained in IoK

• Alice Wells also urged India to allow regular access to US diplomats in the region.

The United States has urged Indian government to release the political leaders who have been detained in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) since August 5.

Following her recent trip to India, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, at a special briefing in Washington, urged the Indian government to permit regular access by of the US diplomats. She also urged the government to release the political leaders who have been detained without charge, Indian media reported.

On the Citizenship Amendment Act, Wells said, "The Act… is undergoing, I would say, a vigorous democratic scrutiny, whether it’s in streets, by the political opposition, media, or the courts. We continue to underscore the importance of the principle of equal protection under the law."

Since August 5, Indian government has detained several political leaders after it revoked the special status granted to IoK. Till today, the region is under lockdown and mobile services suspended.