Kashmiri Social Media Users Being Intimidated by India

On 20th June, State Investigation Agency of India conducted midnight raids at many locations in four districts of occupied Kashmir, namely Srinagar, Islamabad (also known in state nomenclature as Anantnag), Pulwama and Kupwara.

According to the police, the social media users who were “promoting secessionist agenda” were targeted in the raid. India calls all calls for Kashmiri right to self-determination as secessionist and criminalizes it through detentions, expulsions from employment, house confiscations, and other mechanisms.

The phones and electronic devices of pro-freedom Kashmiri social media users were seized during the raid. The raids reflect how India is not willing to tolerate even a social media post that may question India’s military occupation of the region or highlight the war crimes perpetrated by the Indian army.