India Arrests an Academic for Antiwar Posts on Instagram

nytimes.comPublished: 5/19/2025

Summary

India's government has launched legal challenges against academics and journalists deemed critical of its military campaign in Pakistan, with recent arrests signaling an intensifying crackdown on dissent under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This move reflects heightened political sensitivity following the conclusion of a Kashmir conflict that ended without a clear victor. An academic professor was arrested for criticizing what he viewed as improper interference in the affairs of Hindu tourists killed during the clash and also for advocating for war. These actions underscore the delicate balance between asserting national sovereignty and respecting minority rights amid growing persecution.