Kashmir’s youth at the forefront of a crucial election amid tensions

On a bright afternoon in the Kashmiri village of Beerwah, a young, veiled woman stands on the roof of a car.

Surrounded by her entourage, she begins to sing for the crowd of hundreds.

“Though they say orphans are cherished by all. Oh father, I’d never wish such a fate to befall.”

She vows to fight against oppression, and promises a free and prosperous Kashmir.

Two weeks ago, voters began heading to the polls in Indian-controlled Kashmir, casting ballots in the first regional legislative election in over a decade.

In the run-up to the election, 17-year-old Sugra Barkati emerged as an unexpected symbol of resilience.

Sugra is the daughter of jailed separatist leader Sarjan Barkati, who gained prominence during the 2016 protests in Kashmir.

Her father, a charismatic cleric, was known for leading mass protests and popularising the “azaadi” [freedom] chants that became a rallying cry for Kashmir’s separatist movement.

Despite her father’s incarceration, Sugra filed his nomination papers and began campaigning on his behalf.

“Everyone knows the atrocities I have had to face. They were boundless, which is why I convinced my father to run in the election,” Sugra told the ABC.

Sarjan Barkati was arrested in 2016 after leading protests against the killing of an influential young separatist leader, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Authorities accused Sarjan Barkati of illegally raising funds and promoting radicalism, along with other terrorism charges.

His wife was also imprisoned in connection with the case.

“My childhood was stolen from me,” Sugra said.

“There are many families like ours that have been destroyed … there are many young people suffering in jail right now.

“If we succeed in the coming days my father will fix everything.”

Sugra has been canvassing villages with her 11-year-old brother, rallying voters and calling for change.

Her message of resilience has resonated deeply with the people of central Kashmir, who have showered her with support—hugs, flowers, and promises of votes.

Her campaign has become an unexpected force in a region that has seen a rise in militancy since the 2016 unrest.

Now Sugra, eagerly anticipating the poll results, expresses hope for brighter days ahead.

The stakes are high

Many voters told the ABC that they see this election as an opportunity to prevent Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government from further tightening its grip on the Muslim-majority region.

“This election has the potential to bring prosperity to Kashmir,” voter Muzamil Majid Bhat told the ABC.

“By choosing our own leader, we can address the issues facing the Kashmiri people and remove those who are committing injustices.”

Kashmir is one of the most militarised regions in the world.

Since the 1990s, an armed insurgency against Indian rule has claimed thousands of lives, including civilians and security personnel.

Pakistan also claims Kashmir as part of its territory, further deepening the dispute.

Successive Indian governments have accused Pakistan of fuelling the violence, which Islamabad has denied.

For decades, Kashmiris have boycotted elections in protest against Indian rule, arguing that participation would legitimise New Delhi’s control over the region.

This election is the first since Mr Modi’s government revoked Kashmir’s special autonomous status in 2019.

Following the move, a sweeping crackdown ensued.

Thousands of additional troops were deployed, hundreds — including prominent political figures — were detained, and the internet was cut off for over 18 months, marking the world’s longest internet blackout.

While Mr Modi’s supporters celebrated the decision, it was met with strong resistance by many Kashmiris, who viewed it as an attack on their identity.

Public dissent was swiftly stifled, with anyone criticising the government detained under draconian anti-terrorism laws.

Since then, the region has been directly governed by New Delhi, but this election will allow residents to have their own government and local parliament.

And there has been unusually high voter turnout this time, a shift many say reflects hope.

“Inshallah, if the leadership changes, Kashmir’s fate will also change,” voter Nadia Bhat told the ABC during a rally.

Youth are still disillusioned

Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is working hard to gain traction in Kashmir, a region where it has traditionally had little influence.

Party leaders see the high voter turnout as evidence that Kashmiris are embracing their promises of development and rejecting separatism.

“Young Kashmiris have understood that instead of picking up guns and stones, it’s better for us to vote,” said BJP spokesman Manzoor Bhat, framing the elections as a referendum on peace and progress.

Mr Bhat also stressed that Kashmiris are free to express their views, as long as it aligns with the national interest.

“Everyone has their own right. As long as the protests are in the national interest, it is fine. But if it turns anti-national there will be an investigation,” he said.

Many Kashmiris remain skeptical of the electoral process.

Ubaid Majid* from Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, is deeply disillusioned.

“Every corner is filled with army personnel, and we can’t even ask about each other’s wellbeing — that’s the level of fear we’re living in,” he told the ABC.

Ubaid says he spent 8 days in prison in 2018 on false charges of throwing stones at the Indian forces and police deployed to control pro-separatist or insurgency demonstrations.

He alleges he was tortured by authorities.

“Democracy feels very shallow here. I was taken from my own home, and if that’s not oppression, I don’t know what it is. The police took the money and told me my case was resolved, but a week later, they called to say I had to appear in court because a case had been filed against me,” he said.

For Ubaid, and many like him, the elections are a hollow exercise, offering little hope for meaningful change.

He says he will never vote.

“I believe there are not even as many schools here as there are army camps. We have been captured forcefully. We were never truly a part of India, and we will never accept that,” he said.

Set to conclude on October 1, this election is seen by many as one of the most consequential in Kashmir’s recent history, with many watching to see whether the region’s political landscape is undergoing a genuine transformation or remains deeply divided.

*Name changed to protect identity for fear of reprisals