Jammu, In a significant escalation of surveillance activities, police in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district have been instructed to identify individuals advocating for the right to self-determination, signaling an intensified clampdown on pro-freedom sentiments in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the mandate was issued during a security review meeting led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Shridhar Patil. The session saw participation from various police and intelligence officers across the district, underlining a coordinated approach to monitoring and categorizing supporters of the freedom movement.
Authorities are now classifying individuals sympathetic to the cause as overground workers (OGWs) for militants, a label that legitimizes heightened scrutiny and potential legal action against them. The directive includes regular reviews of these individuals' histories, increased cordon and search operations, and detailed house raids.
Concurrently, comprehensive data collection efforts are being carried out by Indian military, paramilitary, and police forces throughout the region. The information being gathered is extensive, covering family connections to the self-determination movement, international travel, overseas relatives, and detailed property descriptions, among other personal details. Even the presence of CCTV systems and past encounters at residences are being cataloged.
This intensified data collection, reminiscent of a census but with far more invasive overtones, has sparked anxiety and confusion among residents. While similar exercises have occurred in the past, the depth and nature of the information requested in these latest efforts have raised concerns about a pervasive surveillance state and the potential for broader marginalization of Kashmiri populations.
Critics and local residents, speaking under conditions of anonymity, have expressed apprehension and skepticism about the objectives behind this extensive data gathering, questioning its necessity given the already considerable information held by government entities.
This development reflects the ongoing tension and deep-seated issues of trust and governance in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where measures perceived to target and suppress dissenting voices continue to stir unrest and unease among the populace.
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