Indian Forces Arrest Two Innocent Kashmiri Youth in Shopian Amid Ongoing Crackdown

In yet another case of arbitrary detention under the guise of security operations, Indian troops arrested two young civilians in Baskuchan, Shopian, deepening fear and anger among residents in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Indian occupation forces on Monday detained two Kashmiri youth, Irfan Bashir and Uzair Salam, during a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Baskuchan area of Shopian district in IIOJK.

Authorities claimed the arrest was made following the alleged recovery of arms and ammunition, a standard narrative frequently used to justify detentions across the occupied territory. However, locals strongly rejected these claims, describing the detainees as innocent civilians with no links to militancy.

“This is a common tactic to intimidate and criminalize Kashmiri youth,” said a local elder. “These boys were just going about their normal routine when they were picked up without reason.”

Residents fear that the charges are fabricated and part of a wider campaign to instill fear and suppress dissent through mass detentions and false accusations. Dozens of such cases have been reported where young men are labeled as ‘terrorists’ or ‘overground workers’ (OGWs) without credible evidence, often resulting in prolonged illegal detention, torture, or enforced disappearances.

“There’s no accountability,” said a local teacher. “Once someone is branded a militant, it’s almost impossible to challenge it legally under draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) or Public Safety Act (PSA).”

This latest incident comes amid a broader intensification of search operations, surveillance, and arbitrary arrests across IIOJK, especially in southern IIOJK, which remains heavily militarized.

Rights defenders and political observers see this as part of a systematic campaign of collective punishment targeting the region’s youth, aimed at stifling the ongoing movement for self-determination.

The families of Irfan Bashir and Uzair Salam have called for their immediate release and demanded that independent human rights groups be allowed to investigate such cases free from Indian interference.