Restrictions have been heightened in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), ahead of India’s Republic Day, compounding the already dire conditions faced by the Kashmiris under occupation. According to Kashmir Media Service, Srinagar and other towns in the territory have witnessed an unprecedented deployment of Indian forces.  

Additional restrictions have been imposed along the Srinagar-Jammu highway under the pretext of security, disrupting normal life. Public movement is being meticulously monitored in Srinagar and other districts of the occupied territory.  In urban areas, particularly Srinagar and Jammu, frisking and checking have been intensified at key locations.

Similarly, advanced surveillance systems, including drones and high-resolution CCTV cameras, have been set up to monitor the situation at key locations. Key venues for January 26 events, including Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar and MA Stadium in Jammu, are surrounded by heavy contingents of Indian troops. Similar arrangements have been enforced in other districts hosting Indian Republic Day functions. 

While occupation authorities claim these measures are meant to ensure “security,” the heightened restrictions have only worsened the plight of Kashmiris. Daily life has been disrupted, businesses have suffered, and the pervasive presence of Indian forces has intensified the atmosphere of fear and oppression in the region.

 For Kashmiris, this annual spectacle of military dominance on India’s Republic Day is a grim reminder of their continued subjugation under occupation. The invasive security measures and the resulting hardships underscore the repressive policies implemented by the Indian authorities in IIOJK. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)