Indian Authorities Arrest Kashmiri Youth For Posting Yasin Malik Photo

Srinagar – In yet another instance of repression in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Indian police have arrested a young Kashmiri for allegedly sharing pictures of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and other Hurriyat leaders on social media.

According to reports from Kashmir Media Service, the arrested youth, identified as Sajad Naseer Butt, hails from Naidkhai Sumbal in the Bandipora district. Police raided his residence and took him into custody, citing his social media activity as the reason for his arrest.

Authorities claim that a case has been registered at Police Station Sumbal, and an investigation is currently underway. However, rights activists and observers see this as part of India’s ongoing crackdown on political expression and dissent in the region. Over the years, several Kashmiris, including journalists, activists, and students, have faced legal action for their online posts that challenge India’s narrative on the Kashmir dispute.

This arrest underscores the growing digital surveillance and restrictions imposed by Indian authorities to silence pro-freedom voices in the region. International human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over the suppression of free speech in Kashmir, urging India to uphold democratic values and respect the right to political expression.

Observers fear that such measures are aimed at stifling political awareness among Kashmiri youth and preventing the dissemination of narratives that challenge Indian control over the territory. The incident has once again highlighted the fragile human rights situation in IIOJK, where political detentions and restrictions on free speech remain rampant.