Srinagar: Authorities in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have further intensified restrictions ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Monday, sparking anger and frustration among the territory’s besieged population.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the visit, widely seen as a propaganda exercise, has been criticized as a cruel mockery of the Kashmiri people’s aspirations for freedom and justice.
The Special Protection Group (SPG) has been deployed at key locations, including the Z-Morh Tunnel and other strategic segments. Police officials stated that additional checkpoints have been established, and surveillance has been significantly increased, especially in central Kashmir. “A coordinated security grid involving Police, paramilitary forces, and the Indian army is in place. These measures will remain effective until January 13,” a senior police official confirmed.
The intensified restrictions include the deployment of extra personnel, the installation of CCTV cameras, drone monitoring, and the establishment of frisking points. These measures have severely restricted the free movement of locals, adding to their daily hardships. Officials have also suspended traffic on the Kargil-Srinagar highway and the Zojila Pass.
The IIOJK administration has instructed 14 Administrative Secretaries to remain stationed at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar until January 13 to ensure smooth coordination for the visit. These developments, however, have raised concerns among residents, who view the stringent restrictions as an extension of the suppressive measures in the region under the guise of security.
Modi’s visit is being portrayed by the Indian government as a step towards “development” in IIOJK. However, critics argue that it is a blatant attempt to legitimize India’s illegal occupation of the territory and obscure the harsh realities faced by the Kashmiri people.
“This visit is a cruel joke with the struggling Kashmiri people who continue to endure repression under India’s military stranglehold,” a political analyst in Srinagar remarked.
Local residents and political observers have condemned Modi as the architect of brutal military operations in Kashmir, holding him responsible for deepening the IIOJK’s suffering. “Kashmiris view his visit as yet another episode in India’s campaign of deceit and oppression. It is not about peace or development but about projecting a false image of normalcy to the world,” said a senior journalist based in Jammu.
The visit comes at a time when the territory remains one of the most militarized zones in the world, with Indian forces maintaining a suffocating presence. Critics argue that Modi’s so-called development agenda is a façade meant to divert international attention from human rights abuses and the denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
“The people of Kashmir are not against peace or development,” said a spokesperson for a local rights group, “but true peace and progress can only be achieved by ending the military occupation and honoring Kashmiris’ right to a UN-supervised plebiscite.”
Human rights activists have also noted the paradox of India’s claims about development while the territory suffers under communication blackouts, arbitrary detentions, and systematic suppression of dissent. “How can peace and development thrive in a land that has been turned into an open-air prison?” asked one activist.
As Modi prepares for his visit, the Kashmiri people continue to demand a just resolution to the dispute—a resolution that recognizes their fundamental rights and aspirations. For them, development projects under military control mean little when their freedom and dignity remain suppressed.
As international observers keenly watching Modi’s visit, the question remains: can propaganda tours obscure the reality of Kashmir’s plight, or will the truth ultimately prevail.
