Indian forces’ personnel have detained over 40 individuals during large-scale search operations across various areas of Ganderbal district in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a Kashmir Media Service report on Tuesday, the Indian Army, paramilitary and police personnel have continued their massive operations for a second consecutive day in different areas of the district.

These operations and subsequent detentions are being conducted on the pretext of the recent attack on private workers at a camp at Gagangir in the district, which resulted in the deaths of seven people. ‘We have picked up several suspects for questioning,’ a senior Indian police officer said.

Local residents believe that the killings of the workers, coupled with the increased search operations, are part of a strategy by the BJP-led Indian government to divert attention from the newly-formed anti-BJP setup in IIOJK. They contend that these actions are intended to distract from efforts aimed at restoring Article 370 and other political rights that were stripped from Kashmiris following the abrogation of special status in August 2019.