Srinagar: The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has escalated its military presence in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by deploying additional troops, intensifying the region’s status as one of the most heavily militarized areas in the world.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the latest military influx includes a brigade headquarters and three battalions of an infantry brigade, totaling approximately 3,000 troops. An additional 500 special forces personnel have also been dispatched to the Jammu region within the past week. These forces join the extensive military installations already present, such as the Romeo and Delta units of the Rashtriya Rifles and the 25th and 26th Infantry Divisions.

The Indian authorities claim the troop surge is a response to an increase in regional attacks, but local and international observers suggest it aims to suppress the Kashmiri population’s demand for self-determination, recognized by the United Nations. The enhanced military operations have led to more stringent security measures throughout the region, including increased checkpoints, frequent searches, and widespread arrests, significantly affecting daily life for the local population and heightening their sense of insecurity.