Unlawful Raids Spark Fear in IIOJK: Residents Face Harassment by Indian Forces

In Srinagar, fear grips residents as Indian forces intensify their crackdown, targeting homes and civilians under the controversial UAPA law.

Indian troops have escalated their operations across various neighborhoods in Srinagar, part of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), leaving behind a trail of panic and despair. These aggressive house raids and search drives, carried out under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), are sparking widespread outrage among locals.

The forces reportedly storm homes without warning, particularly in the IIOJK’s capital. During these raids, they seize personal belongings, including mobile phones, laptops, and financial documents like bank records and property papers. Families are left distressed, with many claiming their valuables such as cash and gold have been looted in the process.

Beyond theft, the soldiers are accused of causing physical damage to homes. Inmates, including women and children, are often subjected to verbal threats and intimidation. These operations, locals say, serve more to spread fear than to ensure security.

Multiple neighborhoods in Srinagar have been hit in recent days. Residents from areas like Zaldagar, DoomKadal, Rampora, Kaw Mohalla, Aabi Gurpora, Devi, Qalamdanpora, and Palpora Noorbagh have all reported similar experiences of forceful entries and ransacked homes.

Among the individuals whose houses were raided are Adil Manzoor Langoo, Basit Bilal Makaya, Waseem Tariq Matta, Fayaz Ahmad Lone, Mohammad Ashraf Kaloo, Qazi Usman, Muzaffar Ahmad Magray, and Shahbaz Farooq Bhat.

Many of these families report that their digital devices were confiscated without explanation. The misuse of the UAPA has come under fire from human rights activists, who argue that it allows arbitrary detention and suppression of dissent without due process.

While authorities claim these actions are aimed at curbing terrorism, critics argue that the indiscriminate nature of the raids violates basic human rights. Such operations, they say, are often politically motivated and used to silence the local population.

For the residents of Srinagar, the trauma doesn’t end when the troops leave. What remains is the fear of when they might return. The continuing militarization and lack of accountability only deepen the sense of insecurity in an already conflict-stricken region.