Srinagar: In Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a sweeping wave of arrests has once again exposed India’s repressive tactics under the guise of “counterterrorism.” Over 500 Kashmiris have been detained in a new crackdown across Srinagar, Anantnag, Sopore, Kulgam, Handwara, and other districts.
Indian police claim the campaign aims to dismantle a “terror ecosystem,” but locals describe it as a mass detention drive targeting ordinary civilians, activists, and relatives of those living in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Rights groups and local residents have condemned the move as part of India’s ongoing effort to suppress dissent. Many detainees have been booked under draconian laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), often used to silence journalists, students, and political workers.
Witnesses say digital devices were seized, homes raided, and entire neighborhoods cordoned off under vague intelligence claims. “This is not security, it’s intimidation,” one resident told reporters.
Analysts argue that India’s repeated labeling of civilians as “terrorists” or “sympathizers” serves to justify its occupation policies while diverting attention from growing international concern over human rights abuses in the valley.
The intensified crackdown deepens fear among Kashmiris and highlights the ongoing denial of basic civil and political rights in one of the world’s most militarized regions.
