Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 18 (ANI): The international community and human rights bodies should take cognizance of human rights violations in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the last day of his electioneering in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Saturday.

Singh, while addressing a public meeting in Lucknow, expressed grave concern regarding human rights violations in PoK. "The voices are being raised in PoK that they do not want to live with Pakistan. I demand the international community that it should take cognizance of the way human rights are being violated in PoK and the way people there are being tortured," he said.

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He said, "Around three years ago when I was addressing senior defence officers I mentioned that there is no need to worry about PoK. Considering the situation unfolding in PoK because of the Pakistan government, the people of PoK will demand to merge them with India."

"A video has gone viral where one can see the national flag of Pakistan being brought down in PoK. People in PoK have made up their minds and denied going with Pakistan," he said.

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There is an International Human Rights Commission to take care of human rights violations in any part of the world. I appeal to the international human rights commission to take cognizance of human rights violations in PoK that the human rights of people in PoK have been suppressed, he added.

The campaigning for the fifth phase of polling ended on Saturday at 6 pm. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)