Karachi, In the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the local population is enduring severe hardships amid ongoing cordon and search operations (CASOs) and house raids conducted by Indian forces. These operations, intensified during the severe winter chill, have added to the distress of the residents in various districts of the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, personnel from the Indian army, paramilitary, police, National Investigation Agency, and State Investigation Agency are actively conducting operations and raids in areas like Srinagar, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian, Islamabad, Kulgam, Rajouri, and Poonch. The frequent and aggressive nature of these operations has resulted in significant harassment of the local population. Reports from residents indicate that they are often forced to stand outside in the cold for extended periods, while troops forcibly enter homes, terrorize inhabitants, and ransack properties.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Srinagar has voiced grave concern over the plight of illegally detained Kashmiris. More than 4,000 Hurriyat leaders, activists, and youths are reported to be in dire conditions in various jails across India and occupied Kashmir. The spokesman has called on international human rights organizations to intervene for the release of these prisoners.
Legal experts in Srinagar have criticized the Modi-led Indian government for using the judiciary to strengthen its illegal control over Jammu and Kashmir. They referred to the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict in the Article 370 case as evidence of this manipulation. The experts also noted that the actions taken by the Modi government on August 05, 2019, have ushered in a more brutal chapter in the region’s troubled history.
In a related development, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, speaking to reporters in Poonch, emphasized that dialogue between India and Pakistan is the only viable solution to the Kashmir dispute. He insisted that war is not a solution and urged New Delhi to recognize this reality. Abdullah also condemned the recent incidents of civilian killings and torture by Indian troops in the Surankote area.
In another significant statement, senior APHC leader Shabbir Ahmed Shah, currently detained in New Delhi’s Tihar jail, paid tributes to the late Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl for his contributions to the Kashmir freedom movement. Shawl’s passing in London was acknowledged as a significant loss for the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. Other APHC leaders, including Khawaja Firdous, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Muhammad Shafi Lone, and several others, echoed these sentiments in their statements, mourning the loss of Professor Shawl and acknowledging his vital role in the ongoing movement.