Escalating Crackdowns in IIOJK: Indian Police Target Jamaat-e-Islami Member and Others Under UAPA

Amid mounting tensions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Indian authorities continue to intensify their clampdown on civilians under the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, raising concerns over human rights violations and political suppression.

In a recent move seen as part of a broader campaign of repression, Indian police raided the residence of a Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) member in Baramulla district of IIOJK. The house, belonging to Abdul Razak Hajam, is located in Hajam Mohalla, Dardpora Zaloora area.

According to reports, the search was conducted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, widely criticized for its misuse. During the raid, authorities confiscated books, documents, mobile phones, and other electronic gadgets from Hajam’s residence.

These house raids, often carried out without substantial evidence or judicial oversight, are seen by many as part of a deliberate effort to suppress the legitimate political aspirations of the Kashmiri people, particularly their demand for the right to self-determination.

The Indian police claimed the operation was legal and linked to national security. However, activists argue that these frequent actions disproportionately target individuals associated with socio-religious groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, which has long been under scrutiny in the region.

In a separate incident in Kupwara district, Indian police confiscated the immovable property of Farooq Ahmad Dar in the Handwara area. Authorities justified the seizure by labeling Dar a drug trafficker. However, locals and human rights observers suspect the move is politically motivated, aligning with a larger trend of framing dissenting individuals under criminal charges to silence opposition.

Meanwhile, Indian forces carried out another cordon and search operation in the Saladhi area of Kathua district. Officials reported that the operation followed sightings of suspicious movement near a forest belt, though no confirmations of arrests or findings were made public.

These recurring operations, including search and seizure actions and property attachments, have drawn sharp criticism from various rights organizations. Critics argue that such strategies are aimed more at intimidation and control than genuine law enforcement.

The use of the UAPA, a law originally intended for anti-terrorism, has come under increasing scrutiny for its implementation in political contexts. In IIOJK, this legislation has become a tool to target civil society, journalists, activists, and now even ordinary residents associated with banned groups.

As the region remains under heavy surveillance and control, the people of IIOJK continue to face restrictions that hinder not just their freedom of expression, but their basic human rights.