Indian Police Intensify Crackdown on Pro-Freedom Voices in IIOJK

As repression deepens in IIOJK, Indian authorities have escalated their campaign of raids and surveillance targeting pro-freedom voices in the region—sparking renewed concerns over civil liberties and human rights.

Srinagar – In an ongoing crackdown on dissent and pro-freedom sentiment, Indian police have ramped up house raids and search operations in Srinagar and other areas of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), targeting individuals allegedly associated with anti-India activities.

Over the past 48 hours, police confirmed that coordinated raids were conducted at the residences of Imtiyaz Ahmad Parray, Arsh Koul, Mutaib Zahoor Butt, Basit Ashraf Malik, and Mohammad Rafiq Shah in various localities across Srinagar city.

According to officials, the searches aimed to seize “documents and digital devices” under the pretext of collecting evidence and intelligence to detect and prevent what the authorities termed “conspiratorial activity” against the Indian state.

“The operations are part of efforts to deter individuals from participating in or promoting violence, disruption, or any unlawful activities,” said a senior police official, adding that “anyone found involved will face strict legal consequences under existing laws.”

However, the move has drawn criticism from Kashmiri civil society groups, journalists, and international human rights advocates, who view such operations as politically motivated and part of a broader effort to silence dissent and suppress pro-Kashmir voices.

These raids are not isolated incidents. Since India’s revocation of Article 370 and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, authorities have been accused of weaponizing law enforcement to curb opposition, limit freedom of expression, and criminalize peaceful advocacy for self-determination.

Local residents, speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisals, described the atmosphere as tense and increasingly surveilled. “People live under constant fear. The presence of forces, night-time raids, and seizure of personal devices have made life unbearable,” said a university student from downtown Srinagar.

Rights organizations have long accused the Indian government of using arbitrary detentions, raids, and digital surveillance as tools to choke dissent. Journalists, students, political activists, and even ordinary citizens have not been spared.

Experts warn that such measures not only violate international human rights norms but also deepen resentment and alienation among the local population. “The Indian state’s approach in IIOJK is driven by coercion rather than engagement,” said a political analyst based in New Delhi.

Furthermore, critics argue that the vague and sweeping terms used by authorities—such as “anti-national elements” or “conspiratorial activity”—allow for indiscriminate targeting without transparency or due process.

Despite the growing number of such raids, international response remains muted. Advocates are now urging global human rights organizations and the United Nations to intervene and call India to account for its repeated violations of civil and political rights in IIOJK.

The recent wave of raids underscores a grim reality: IIOJK’s political space continues to shrink, and the state’s mechanisms are increasingly being used not for justice, but for domination and control.