Police asked to identify those supporting right to self-determination demand in IIOJK

Jammu

In order to further tighten the noose around the freedom loving people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian police establishment has asked the Doda district police to identify all those supporting the demand of right to self-determination.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the directions were passed during a so-called security review meeting in the district. Chaired by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Shridhar Patil, who was on a visit to Doda, the meeting was attended by all police and intelligence officers and SHOs of the district.

All police officers were directed to exercise special surveillance over the activities of the common people as well as those, who have remained supporters of the freedom cause. Notably, the Indian authorities are deeming all those supporting the freedom movement as over ground workers of the mujahideen in order to justify action against them. The DIG also directed the police officers to review the history of these so-called OGWs on regular basis for their categorisation on the basis of analysis of their record. The Indian police officers were also directed to intensify cordon and search operations (CASOs) and house raids in their areas.

Meanwhile, the Indian army, paramilitary and police personnel continued their house to house operations collecting data of the families and individuals in IIOJK. The data, besides names and phone numbers of residents, also seeks to know if a family member has links with the right to self-determination struggle, has visited a foreign country, family member settled abroad, latitude-longitude details of the property, photographs of family members, vehicle registration number, Aadhaar number, mobile number, etc. Other details include if the premises has CCTV cameras installed, and whether any so-called encounter had taken place at the house.

Earlier, the Indian police have been distributing a one-page unsigned document under the title “Census Form” in each household in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley and Jammu region.

The Indian forces’ personnel have been tasked with collecting such details from each household in their area of operation in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region. Residents have also been asked to fill the form and submit it at the nearest police station at the earliest.

A resident of Srinagar in a media interview said on condition of anonymity that earlier too they have filled out such forms, but this time, the details sought are exhaustive. “This has set off panic among the people,” he said.

Another resident questioned the efficacy of such an exercise. “Incidentally, government already has almost all the information such as vehicle numbers, phone numbers and photographs. Is it to convey the idea of being under 24/7 surveillance? Or the larger othering project, one doesn’t know,” the second resident said.—KMS