India: Amnesty India halts operations after government froze bank accounts

Dubai: Amnesty International India, the Indian-wing of a global organisation headquartered in the UK, has shut down all operations following a government freeze on their bank accounts. A statement posted on the official website of the organisation claims government actions to be the "latest in the incessant witch-hunt of human rights organisations by the Government of India over unfounded and motivated allegations."

The organisation's focus is on human rights and bringing to the fore all incidents considered an abuse of human rights. The Indian branch has been reportedly accused of money-laundering which triggered the freesing of bank accounts. 

Amnesty India added that they had to let go of all their staff following the governmental measures this month. The statement posted on their website also lists a timeline of alleged 'harassment' by the Indian government.

The branch also added that money raised was through member contributions. The statement said, "four million Indians have supported Amnesty International India’s work in the last eight years and around 100,000 Indians have made financial contributions. These contributions evidently cannot have any relation with the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. The fact that the Government is now portraying this lawful fundraising model as money-laundering is evidence that the overbroad legal framework is maliciously activated when human rights activists and groups challenge the government’s grave inactions and excesses."