Srinagar: India’s efforts to portray a sense of normalcy and festivity in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) during its Independence Day on August 15th stand in stark contrast to the actual conditions on the ground. Reports and social media reveal a reality of coercion and imposed participation, rather than voluntary celebration.

According to Kashmir Media Service, since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which granted special status to the region, IIOJK has been under severe military lockdown with rigorous restrictions on local movement, communications, and public gatherings. Despite these measures, the Indian government has continued to orchestrate what are described as “Tranga rallies,” involving police, government officials, and coerced local participants, all under the surveillance of a large contingent of security forces.

Eyewitness accounts and viral content on social media paint a different picture from the official narrative. For instance, a 2020 video from Baramulla showed local residents being forced by Indian troops to join the celebrations. In another instance, a photograph from an empty street in Srinagar on August 15, 2022, widely circulated online, further debunked claims of widespread public participation and enthusiasm.

These discrepancies highlight a significant gap between the portrayed image of celebration and the reported reality of opposition and disenchantment among the Kashmiri populace.