Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Protests Echo Indian Freedom Fighter's Verses
Protesters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have been chanting verses by Indian freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil during ongoing demonstrations against the local government, according to videos circulating on social media. The protests, which began in early June, have turned violent, with security forces reportedly using lethal force.
Witnesses and local media report that at least 37 civilians have been killed and over 200 injured in the past three days of clashes. The death toll includes Usman Nazir, brother of a member of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which is leading the protests. The JAAC has accused authorities of electoral rigging, enforced disappearances, and economic mismanagement.
The protests were sparked by rising living costs, allegations of administrative apathy, and political discrimination against the region. Demonstrators have also raised slogans such as "Inquilab Zindabad" (Long live the revolution), a phrase coined by Urdu poet Maulana Hasrat Mohani in 1921.
In one widely shared video, women and children are seen chanting Bismil's famous couplet: "Sarfaroshi ki tamannah ab hamare dil mein hai, dekhna hai zor kitna bazu-e-katil mein hai" (The desire to sacrifice our lives is now in our hearts, let us see how much strength is in the arms of the killer). Bismil was a key figure in India's independence movement and was executed by British colonial authorities in 1927.
The Indian government has condemned the crackdown, describing the recent local body elections in the region as an attempt by Pakistan to legitimize its "illegal occupation" and hide "grave" human rights violations. Pakistan rejects these claims and maintains that the territory is an independent state under its protection.
The situation remains tense, with further protests anticipated despite the security force crackdown. International observers have called for restraint and dialogue.
