Narendra Modi visits Kashmir for first time since state’s autonomy stripped

Thousands of police mobilised for Srinagar rally seen as Modi’s campaign event for elections in few week’s time

India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has made his first visit to Kashmir since the government revoked the region’s autonomy in 2019, claiming the state was finally “breathing freely” despite allegations of systematic repression.

Thousands of police and paramilitary officers were mobilised before Modi’s first rally there for more than five years, held in the state’s largest city, Srinagar.