Massive CASO launched in Poonch as India steps up military crackdown in IIOJK
Jammu: Indian forces have launched a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) in the forests of Poonch, triggering fresh fear and tension among residents of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the operation was initiated early morning after troops claimed to have detected “suspicious movement” in the Dehra Ki Gali–Surankote belt. Joint contingents of the Indian Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) have sealed off vast forest stretches, blocking civilian movement and carrying out aggressive searches.
Eyewitnesses reported heavy troop deployment, drone surveillance, and repeated searches of nearby hamlets—hallmarks of operations that have often resulted in arbitrary detentions, harassment, and extrajudicial killings in the past.
Officials confirmed that the operation was ongoing “when last reports came in,” offering no clarity on casualties, arrests, or the identity of the so-called suspects—an ambiguity that rights groups say India frequently uses to justify prolonged military actions in the territory.
Local residents expressed concern that these sweeping operations, often launched on vague intelligence claims, further militarize civilian areas and violate basic human rights, particularly the rights to movement, privacy, and safety.
