Handwara Residents in IIOJK Rise in Protest Over Prolonged Water Crisis in IIOJK

Denied a basic human necessity for months, the people of Handwara in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have taken to the streets demanding clean drinking water.

Residents of Braripora in Handwara, located in the Kupwara district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), launched a public protest against what they called the negligence and anti-people policies of the administration led by Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Fed up with government inaction, men and women gathered near Darul Uloom, expressing their frustration over the long-standing lack of clean drinking water in the area.

Protesters claimed that their community has been suffering for months due to the complete absence of potable water. Despite raising the issue with concerned departments several times, authorities have failed to take meaningful action.

One woman protester said, “We are being deprived of a basic necessity—clean drinking water. The concerned department has completely failed us.”

Residents stressed that repeated appeals to officials fell on deaf ears, and no practical steps have been taken to resolve the issue. “We have knocked on every door. We’ve protested before as well, but our cries have been ignored,” another resident added.

The lack of clean water has led to severe daily hardships. Families are being forced to rely on unsafe and distant water sources, putting their health and well-being at risk.

“This isn’t just an inconvenience anymore,” said one protester. “It’s a humanitarian issue now. The situation is simply unacceptable.”

The anger among residents was evident as they chanted slogans demanding accountability and immediate intervention.

The protest also served as a wider rebuke of the administration’s failure to provide even the most basic public services. Many accused the Manoj Sinha-led administration of ignoring the needs of the people in favor of political agendas.

The demonstration highlights a growing disconnect between the local population and the Delhi-imposed governance system, which many in the region feel is unresponsive and indifferent to ground realities.

The residents concluded their protest by calling for the immediate restoration of clean drinking water in Braripora and other affected areas.

They emphasized that water is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and warned of continued protests if their demands are not addressed swiftly.

This water crisis is not just a localized issue. It reflects a broader pattern of neglect and poor infrastructure in many parts of IIOJK, where communities continue to suffer due to bureaucratic indifference and lack of investment.

As protests continue to grow in frequency and intensity across the region, observers believe these incidents reveal deeper frustrations with the way governance is being conducted under Indian occupation.

The Handwara water crisis is yet another glaring example of administrative failure in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Residents are no longer staying silent. Their peaceful protests carry a clear message: basic human rights cannot be ignored any longer.