May in IIOJK: A Month of Bloodshed, Repression, and Silencing Dissent

The month of May brought more blood, grief, and repression to IIOJK—as Indian forces intensified their brutal crackdown on civilians and silenced dissenting voices far beyond its borders.

In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the cycle of violence and repression continued throughout May 2025. Indian troops, under the guise of counter-insurgency operations, martyred 17 Kashmiris, including a woman, in what rights groups and local sources describe as ongoing acts of state terrorism.

Disturbingly, eight of those killed were victims of staged encounters or died while in custody—highlighting the impunity with which Indian forces operate in the region. The violence was part of a broader crackdown involving 236 cordon and search operations, during which police, military, and paramilitary forces raided homes and terrorized residents.

In addition to the killings, at least five civilians were injured as a result of excessive force used to suppress peaceful protests. Meanwhile, a staggering 474 Kashmiris were arrested during the month, many of them arbitrarily detained under harsh laws without due process.

The month also saw an intensification of property seizures under the administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Authorities attached 11 properties belonging to Kashmiris, including homes and agricultural land. These actions, widely condemned as punitive measures, are part of a broader strategy to economically and psychologically disempower the local population.

Beyond the borders of IIOJK, India’s campaign to silence dissent took a disturbing international turn. On May 19, 2025, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs revoked the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status of Nitasha Kaul—a Kashmiri Pandit academic, writer, and critic of the Indian government based in the United Kingdom.

Kaul has been vocal about the human rights violations in IIOJK and the growing marginalization of minorities in India. She described the revocation of her OCI as an act of “transnational repression,” a tactic increasingly used by the Modi-led regime to punish critics beyond India’s borders. Her case has sparked widespread outrage among academics, rights groups, and international observers who view the move as part of a broader crackdown on freedom of expression.

Critics argue that India is not only intensifying its brutal campaign in IIOJK but also targeting those who dare to speak out globally. The government’s actions—from killings and mass arrests in IIOJK to silencing diaspora voices—reflect a disturbing pattern of authoritarianism and disregard for international law.

As Kashmiris continue to endure military oppression and denial of basic rights, the international community is being urged to take a stronger stance. The events of May underscore the urgent need for global intervention to halt India’s escalating human rights violations in the occupied territory.