Civil society concerned over India’s intensified military operations in IIOJK
Srinagar: India has expedited its military activities across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a move widely perceived as an attempt to consolidate control and intimidate the local population.
According to Kashmir Media Service, civil society members have raised alarms over the escalated military presence, contradicting Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent assertion that the situation in the territory is under control.
The Director General of India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), GP Singh, recently visited paramilitary formations in South Kashmir’s Kokernag and Pulwama under the guise of “operational preparedness.” During his visit to the 164 Battalion CRPF headquarters in Kokernag, Singh emphasized “proactive measures” and “intelligence-based operations.”
Civil society members fear these terms are code for increased raids, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances under draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA). Singh also called for greater coordination between the CRPF, police, and the Indian Army, a move critics say aims to further militarize the terriotry and suppress resistance to India’s illegal occupation.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, Corps Commander of the White Knight Corps, visited Rajouri to “boost troop morale,” signaling India’s continued reliance on heavy-handed military tactics to quell Kashmiris’ aspirations. These visits have coincided with increased restrictions, arbitrary arrests and the targeting of civilians, particularly in Poonch and Rajouri, where Muslims face frequent harassment under the pretext of counter-terrorism operations.
In the Chenab Valley, top Indian military officials convened at the Dharmund military garrison in Ramban to finalize plans for a coordinated crackdown on what India describes as the “terror ecosystem.” Officials revealed plans to arm ex-servicemen to strengthen Village Defence Guards (VDGs), a move critics warn could empower Hindu vigilante groups and escalate sectarian violence.
Civil society members argue that these measures are not about addressing genuine security threats but are instead aimed at crushing local resistance, silencing dissent, and tightening India’s grip on the disputed territory. They called on the international community to intervene and address the excessive militarization of Kashmir and the systematic targeting of Kashmiri civilians.
