Srinagar: In a significant move by Indian authorities, the properties of 4,212 individuals in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have been blacklisted, barring any form of transaction including sale, purchase, or transfer.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this measure is seen as part of an extensive effort to suppress voices advocating for Kashmiris’ UN-recognized right to self-determination. The properties affected by this blacklist are now locked from any market activities, placing financial and social constraints on the owners.
A senior police official reported that the blacklisting is one element of a comprehensive strategy aimed at dismantling the self-determination movement in the region. The approach includes the termination of government workers and the prohibition of organizations supporting Kashmiri autonomy. “Seventy-two government employees connected to the movement have been dismissed under Article 311, and we have also banned 10 organizations and 13 factions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,” he explained.
Opponents of these measures criticize them as tactics by the Modi administration to intimidate and penalize Kashmiris for their political stance, an attempt to weaken their determination and strengthen governmental control. They highlight the seizure of properties worth millions and the firing of local employees as components of what they describe as a campaign of settler colonialism. This campaign aims to replace native residents and suppress the Muslim demographic through strategic displacement and marginalization, potentially leading to heightened tensions and further alienation among the Kashmiri populace.