Syed Ali Gilani’s Legacy Under Attack as India Seizes Property

Srinagar – Indian authorities have intensified their crackdown on pro-freedom voices in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), targeting Hurriyat leaders, political organizations, and literature associated with the resistance movement.

Timeline:

On January 25, Indian police conducted a search at the residence of the late veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani and seized a portion of the property. The move is seen as part of India’s continued efforts to erase symbols of Kashmiri resistance.

On February 25, police raided multiple bookstores, warning shopkeepers against stocking or selling literature linked to banned organizations. The crackdown on publications is aimed at controlling the narrative and restricting political awareness among the people of Kashmir.

On March 25, the Indian government imposed a five-year ban on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Awami Action Committee (AAC) and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen (JKIM), citing allegations of promoting separatist ideology. The ban is widely perceived as an attempt to dismantle key religious-political platforms advocating for Kashmir’s right to self-determination.

The repression escalated further on March 22, when India launched a fresh wave of police raids at the residences of Hurriyat leaders. Reports indicate that heads of political organizations are being coerced into submitting declarations of disassociation from Hurriyat leadership (Annex – A). So far, Indian forces have raided the homes of 36 Hurriyat leaders, with six of them reportedly issuing public statements of disassociation under duress.

Observers believe that these measures are part of India’s broader strategy to dismantle Hurriyat and replace it with controlled political alternatives in IIOJK. The APHC has condemned the actions, urging the international community to take immediate notice of India’s systematic suppression of Kashmiri political and religious leaders.

Despite the intensified repression, the Kashmiri resistance leadership remains resolute, reaffirming its commitment to the ongoing struggle for self-determination and the protection of Kashmiri identity.