Kashmiri Youth’s Property Seized in Baramulla Under UAPA in Latest Crackdown

In yet another alarming case of property seizure in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, authorities have confiscated the belongings of a young Kashmiri, sparking outrage over the misuse of anti-terror laws.

In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), authorities under the New Delhi-controlled regime have intensified property seizures targeting local residents, with the latest case involving a young Kashmiri in Baramulla district.

Indian police recently confiscated a shop and an adjoining room belonging to Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo in the Kralteng area of Sopore. The property was seized under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)—a controversial law often criticized for being misused against civilians in IIOJK.

Officials claimed that Kandoo was allegedly involved in the region’s ongoing freedom struggle, a justification frequently used by the authorities to clamp down on dissent and penalize residents. However, rights activists and locals argue that such claims are rarely backed by transparent investigations or legal proceedings.

This incident marks yet another example of how laws like UAPA are weaponized to intimidate Kashmiris, curb civil liberties, and silence political voices. Critics argue that these actions form part of a broader strategy to alter the region’s demographic and economic landscape.

Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which stripped IIOJK of its special constitutional status, the BJP-led Indian government has ramped up measures perceived as coercive by many in the region. These include the widespread demolition of homes, arrests without trial, and land dispossession.

The use of UAPA has surged in IIOJK post-2019, with hundreds of residents, activists, and journalists booked under the law, often without access to fair legal recourse. Property seizures, such as the one involving Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, are seen as part of an overarching attempt to suppress the identity and rights of the Kashmiri people.

Local political observers and human rights defenders have condemned these actions, describing them as collective punishment aimed at stifling legitimate political dissent and further alienating the Kashmiri population.

The targeting of civilian properties—without transparent legal procedure—raises serious concerns about due process and the violation of fundamental human rights. These developments have only deepened fears among ordinary Kashmiris who feel increasingly insecure in their own land.

As the Indian government continues its assertive stance in the region, calls are growing both domestically and internationally for scrutiny of its actions in IIOJK and the urgent need to safeguard the civil and human rights of its residents.