In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian authorities have intensified their campaign of raids and intimidation as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a search at the residence of a retired government employee in Srinagar. NIA sleuths raided the house of Nazir Ahmad Butt in the Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar in connection with a case registered in 2024.

The search operation, carried out by heavily armed personnel, created panic among local residents as the area was cordoned off during the proceedings. The search was still underway at the time of reporting. Locals have condemned the frequent targeting of civilians, including retired employees, under the pretext of counter-terror investigations. They say such actions are part of a broader pattern of harassment aimed at silencing dissent and instilling fear among the population. 

The residents said that the continued use of Indian agencies like the NIA to conduct raids in residential areas reflects the deepening militarisation of civilian life in IIOJK. They maintain that arbitrary searches, prolonged interrogations and legal intimidation have become routine tools to pressure families and shrink democratic space in the territory. Residents of Mehjoor Nagar expressed concern over the growing climate of fear, stating that repeated raids and cordon operations disrupt normal life and subject ordinary citizens to collective anxiety and uncertainty. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)