Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Photo Galleries

Kashmiri City In Lockdown After India Scraps Autonomy

The streets in Kashmir's largest city are eerily quiet amid a lockdown and rising tensions after India scrapped the disputed region's special status.

Dogs snooze on a road usually bustling with traffic on August 11 in Srinigar, the main city. 
1 Dogs snooze on a road usually bustling with traffic on August 11 in Srinigar, the main city. 
Indian police patrol a deserted street on August 6, shortly after India announced it would revoke the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir -- the only Muslim-majority state in India. 
2 Indian police patrol a deserted street on August 6, shortly after India announced it would revoke the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir -- the only Muslim-majority state in India. 
Indian police stand guard as Muslim men exit a mosque after Friday Prayers. According to the Financial Times, mosques are permitted to operate but most businesses and all schools are closed in Srinigar. Telecom services have also been heavily restricted. 
3 Indian police stand guard as Muslim men exit a mosque after Friday Prayers. According to the Financial Times, mosques are permitted to operate but most businesses and all schools are closed in Srinigar. Telecom services have also been heavily restricted. 
Indian police patrol a Srinigar street in the rain. Since the change in Kashmir's legal status, India has sent tens of thousands of troops to the region. 
4 Indian police patrol a Srinigar street in the rain. Since the change in Kashmir's legal status, India has sent tens of thousands of troops to the region. 
Kashmiri men throw stones at Indian police on August 10. The region, claimed by both Pakistan and India, has been the cause of almost every major conflict between the two countries. 
5 Kashmiri men throw stones at Indian police on August 10. The region, claimed by both Pakistan and India, has been the cause of almost every major conflict between the two countries. 
A Kashmiri walks past shuttered shops on August 11. 
6 A Kashmiri walks past shuttered shops on August 11. 
An emptry street amid the lockdown imposed by Indian police, which New Delhi has said is being enforced to prevent violence in the wake of the demotion of Kashmir's legal status. 
7 An emptry street amid the lockdown imposed by Indian police, which New Delhi has said is being enforced to prevent violence in the wake of the demotion of Kashmir's legal status. 
An Indian policeman on patrol in Srinigar on August 8. The change in the region's legal status means it will no longer be allowed to frame its own laws and nonresidents will be allowed to buy property in the territory.
8 An Indian policeman on patrol in Srinigar on August 8. The change in the region's legal status means it will no longer be allowed to frame its own laws and nonresidents will be allowed to buy property in the territory.
A police bus blocks a street in Kashmir. Leaders in Kashmir have warned of a violent response to the stripping of its autonomy in a region where militants have been fighting against Indian rule for nearly 30 years, a conflict that has killed more than 50,000 people. 
9 A police bus blocks a street in Kashmir. Leaders in Kashmir have warned of a violent response to the stripping of its autonomy in a region where militants have been fighting against Indian rule for nearly 30 years, a conflict that has killed more than 50,000 people. 
Indian police in front of shuttered shops in Srinigar on August 6. Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic links with India and suspended trade in protest of New Delhi's move. 
10 Indian police in front of shuttered shops in Srinigar on August 6. Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic links with India and suspended trade in protest of New Delhi's move. 
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan compared India's ruling party to Nazism, tweeting: “[An attempt] is [being made] to change the demography of Kashmir through ethnic cleansing. [The] question is: Will the world watch & appease as they did Hitler at Munich?” 
11 Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan compared India's ruling party to Nazism, tweeting: “[An attempt] is [being made] to change the demography of Kashmir through ethnic cleansing. [The] question is: Will the world watch & appease as they did Hitler at Munich?” 
Ram Madhav, a senior leader in India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, responded: “[The] threat to the democratic world is from Pakistani-sponsored Jehadi (sic) terror, not from India."
12

Ram Madhav, a senior leader in India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, responded: “[The] threat to the democratic world is from Pakistani-sponsored Jehadi (sic) terror, not from India."
A Kashmiri fills a bag with vegetables on his boat at Nageen Lake in Srinagar on August 10. India has not indicated how long the lockdown will continue.
13 A Kashmiri fills a bag with vegetables on his boat at Nageen Lake in Srinagar on August 10. India has not indicated how long the lockdown will continue.
Back to top
XS
SM
MD
LG