Indian authorities in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have released more photographs of local youth, labeling them as “suspected militants,” and displayed the images at prominent locations across Kathua district.According to Kashmir Media Service, the poster campaign seeks to coerce residents into reporting their own people and families to the army, police, CRPF, and BSF, under the pretext of security.

A helpline number has been prominently displayed, promising anonymity to informers, while instilling fear and mistrust among civilians.Observers note that this move forms part of a broader strategy by Indian forces to malign the indigenous struggle for self-determination and suppress popular resistance. Analysts say the campaign deliberately misrepresents Kashmiri youth, most of whom hail from families that have repeatedly sacrificed for the cause of Kashmir, portraying them as “foreign militants” to delegitimize the native movement.

Political and civil society voices in IIOJK have condemned the initiative as a calculated attempt to create divisions within communities. They argue that such poster campaigns provide pretexts for intensified raids, cordons, and surveillance, while diverting attention from India’s ongoing human rights violations in the territory.Critics warn that the tactic of vilifying local youth is designed to intimidate the population, erode communal trust, and prolong the occupation, while undermining the legitimacy of Kashmiris’ political aspirations.

Meanwhile, residents of Kathua have expressed concern over the public display of the photographs, noting that such actions increase the risk of harassment, arbitrary detentions, and targeting of families in the name of “security.”Analysts say that the poster campaign, combined with constant surveillance and military presence, further entrenches fear among ordinary civilians, who already live under severe restrictions and daily crackdowns. They call on the international community to recognize these intimidation tactics as part of India’s ongoing effort to suppress the voice of Kashmiris.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)