Web Desk: Kashmiris marked the 10th anniversary of the killing of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, whose death in 2016 became a defining moment in the region’s long-running separatist movement and triggered widespread protests across Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Wani, who was 22 when he was killed by Indian security forces on July 8, 2016, remains a prominent and deeply polarising figure. Supporters regard him as a symbol of resistance, while India viewed him as a militant commander.
According to accounts widely shared by supporters, Wani joined the armed insurgency in 2010 at the age of 15. He gained prominence by using social media to communicate his message, marking a departure from the traditional methods employed by earlier generations of separatist groups.
His online presence helped him gain significant attention among young Kashmiris and made him one of the most recognisable faces of the insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Wani was killed alongside two associates during an operation by Indian security forces on July 8, 2016.
News of his killing prompted massive demonstrations across the Kashmir Valley, with large crowds taking to the streets in protest. The unrest that followed led to months of clashes, curfews and disruptions, making it one of the most volatile periods in the region in recent years.
Supporters say Wani’s death injected renewed momentum into the separatist movement and strengthened calls for the right to self-determination.
They also credit him with recognising the growing influence of digital platforms and using social media to amplify the Kashmiri narrative despite sustained security operations and restrictions.
For many supporters, Wani’s legacy remains closely linked to the sacrifices of thousands of Kashmiris who, they say, sought to advance the cause of self-determination.
The status of Kashmir continues to be a source of dispute between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming the region in full while administering separate parts of the Himalayan territory.
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