The Indian authorities have intensified cordon and search operations and house raids across Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, days ahead of the so-called celebrations of Indian Republic Day, on January 26.

Indian troops continued search operations and house raids in Srinagar, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Budgam, Islamabad, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Ramban, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

The authorities have imposed night curfew in Jammu region and ordered that no person or groups will move from ten in the night to six in the morning.

Owing to Modi government’s crippling economic policies, the dream of performing Hajj has gone out of reach for many in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In a significant drop in applications, this year, only four hundred people applied for Hajj against the allotted quote of eleven thousand and hundred. 

Meanwhile, on the first day of the two-day wheel jam strike, most of the traffic remained off the road across occupied Jammu and Kashmir against a legislation by the Bharatiya Janata Party government imposing stern punitive measures including heavy fine on drivers for traffic accidents.

Call for the strike was given by the All Kashmir Transporters’ Confederation. Besides occupied Kashmir, the strike garnered support from several states in India including Maharashtra and New Delhi.