Srinagar: In the lead-up to India’s Independence Day on August 15, Indian security forces have escalated cordon and search operations (CASOs) and house raids across the region of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, heightening tensions and causing distress among the local populace.

According to Kashmir Media Service, extensive house searches, detentions of young individuals, and the summoning of hundreds to police stations and army camps mark a significant increase in security activities. The operations extend throughout Srinagar and other parts of the territory, with security personnel establishing multiple checkpoints on major roads, conducting rigorous vehicle checks, and frisking commuters.

While authorities describe these measures as necessary security precautions for the national holiday, local residents express that such intensified actions bring about increased suffering and disruption to their daily lives, reinforcing feelings of alienation and hardship. The intensified security regimen underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the people in the region, amid their prolonged pursuit of self-determination.