18 Kashmiris martyred by Indian troops since July 28 in IIOJK: Report
Srinagar: A report released by the Research Section of the Kashmir Media Service today revealed that 18 Kashmiris have been martyred by Indian troops since July 28, 2025, during intensified military operations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), particularly following the launch of the so-called “Operation Mahadev.”
According to the report, “Operation Mahadev” was launched by Indian forces in Dachigam area of Srinagar on July 28, 2025, after the failure of India’s previous campaign, Operation Sindoor. During this operation, personnel from the Indian army, police and CRPF martyred three Kashmiri youth and later linked them to the Pahalgam attack. However, locals in the area asserted that the youth were innocent and killed in a fake encounter to falsely brand them as militants.
Since July 28, the report highlighted that Indian forces—including the Indian Army, Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), elite commandos, and Special Operations Group (SOG)—have conducted many fake encounters and custodial killings, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 12 youth, including Sulaiman Shah, Yasir Ahmed, Habib Tahir, Bagu Khan, Inam Khan, Manzoor Ahmad Naikoo, and Riyaz Ahmed.
In addition to these killings, the report documented the arrest of over 400 youth during house raids and cordon-and-search operations during this period. Most of the detainees were charged under draconian laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The report also noted that on September 24, Indian Army and paramilitary personnel opened indiscriminate fire on peaceful protesters in Leh town of the Ladakh region, killing four civilians, including Tsewang Tharchin (46), Stanzin Namgyal (24), Jigmet Dorjay (25), and Rinchen Dadul (21). The protesters in Leh were demanding their legitimate political rights, which have been systematically suppressed by the BJP-led government.
Further, the BJP regime has confiscated at least 30 properties, including houses and agricultural lands in the territory, during this period as a punitive measure against dissenters.
Since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, IIOJK has witnessed a sharp escalation in military repression, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and custodial violence, destruction and seizure of civilian properties, denial of essential services, and intensified surveillance and cordon-and-search operations. Life in IIOJK has become politically, economically, and socially unbearable for its residents. The region has effectively been turned into an open-air prison, with thousands of Hurriyat leaders, activists, political and religious figures, journalists, businessmen, civil society members, and youth imprisoned.
The report further condemned the 2020 media policy imposed by the BJP regime, which has placed strict curbs on press freedom. It noted that journalists face frequent harassment, detention, and censorship, with only state-approved narratives permitted in public discourse.
Despite these brutalities, the report stressed that the people of IIOJK remain unwavering in their demand for the right to self-determination. It urged the international community to hold the BJP government accountable for its crimes and press for a resolution to the Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.
