Web Desk: A recent security and sweeping operation in Indian-administered Kashmir has drawn sharp criticism from activists and rights observers, who accuse the government of using counterterrorism narratives to suppress dissent and tighten its control over the disputed region.
Security Sweep or Political Show?
Authorities described the latest crackdown as a major counterinsurgency effort, citing raids on 16 houses, the arrest of several suspects, and the discovery of what officials called “OGW networks” and illegal arms. Critics allege that authorities staged the operation to create a sense of crisis and distract attention from growing domestic and international scrutiny of India’s policies in Kashmir.
Rights advocates claim that security forces carried out many raids arbitrarily and fabricated evidence afterward to fit a pre-written narrative. “These operations are less about security and more about control,” one activist said, requesting anonymity due to safety concerns.
Allegations of Collective Punishment
Observers say the recent sweep follows a familiar pattern since the 2019 revocation of Article 370, which stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status. Activists accuse Indian authorities of rewriting land laws, curbing local representation, and targeting Muslim-majority communities through mass detentions and communication blackouts.
Legal experts have also raised concerns over the continued use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA), laws that grant sweeping powers to security forces and permit detention without trial. Critics argue that such measures have created a climate of impunity and fear among civilians.
Calls for International Investigation
Human rights groups are urging the international community to demand independent investigations into alleged abuses, including claims of staged encounters and political detentions. One South Asian rights monitor said the world cannot treat India as a rights-abiding democracy while it keeps Kashmir under military siege.
Analysts warn that continued crackdowns risk fueling further alienation and unrest. As one observer noted, “When dissent is criminalized, resistance becomes inevitable and branding that resistance as terrorism only deepens the cycle of violence.”
Global Reaction Expected
While New Delhi insists that the operations are necessary to maintain peace, international observers say the mounting allegations could test India’s image as a strategic partner committed to democratic values. Observers expect calls for UN oversight and independent reporting on conditions in Kashmir to intensify in the coming weeks.
