Youth unrest, economic despair, and rising violence converge to test Kashmir’s social fabric
By: Javid Amin | 01 Sep 2025
A Region on Edge
On a late summer evening in Srinagar, the bustling Zero Bridge—usually alive with college students, couples, and families—turned into a crime scene. A 19-year-old was stabbed during a heated altercation, his friends screaming for help as bystanders froze in disbelief.
This wasn’t an isolated event. Over the past year, Kashmir has seen a disturbing surge in street-level violence: knife attacks, gang altercations, and drug-fueled crimes. For a region long scarred by political upheaval, the menace is no longer just militancy or security crackdowns. It is now the streets themselves—where Kashmir’s youth, struggling with unemployment, depression, and identity crises, are turning to crime.
The spike in violence is a symptom of deeper wounds: an economy in tatters, mental health in crisis, and a social fabric unraveling under pressure.
The Spike in Violence
From downtown Srinagar to the quiet lanes of Baramulla and Pulwama, local residents whisper about an unsettling trend: teenagers carrying knives, gangs settling petty rivalries with bloodshed, and drug deals sparking fights that spiral into public mayhem.
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Knife attacks: Police data reveal a steady rise in stabbings in Srinagar’s commercial hubs and outskirts.
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Public spaces as hotspots: Parks, bridges, and markets—once seen as safe community spaces—are increasingly crime-prone.
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Youth-led violence: Teenagers and men in their early 20s are disproportionately involved, their violence often spontaneous and rage-driven.
“What we’re seeing is not just crime, but frustration exploding on the streets,” a Srinagar-based sociologist told us.
The brutality is random enough to spread fear, yet intimate enough to suggest desperation.
The Economic Pressure Cooker
At the root of the crisis lies an economy that offers little room for ambition.
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Unemployment: At 17.1%, Jammu & Kashmir’s unemployment rate is among the highest in India.
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Educated but jobless: Thousands of graduates queue up for scarce government jobs, while the private sector remains underdeveloped.
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Soaring costs: Inflation in essentials—housing, education, healthcare—has strained families.
For many young Kashmiris, dreams are deferred indefinitely.
In a café near Lal Chowk, 24-year-old Bilal (name changed) shared:
“I did my MBA, but what am I supposed to do? There are no jobs, no businesses. Some of my friends are into drugs, some fight for small gangs. If life doesn’t give you respect, you look for it elsewhere—even in the wrong places.”
The economic pressure cooker is pushing youth toward substance abuse, gangs, and crime as forms of expression—or escape.
Social Breakdown and Mental Health
Kashmir’s silent epidemic is not just unemployment, but mental health collapse.
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Rising depression & anxiety: Conflict, uncertainty, and unemployment fuel widespread distress.
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Suicides: In 2022, J&K recorded 497 attempted suicides—nearly 28% of India’s total, according to NCRB.
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Lack of infrastructure: Mental health professionals are scarce. Social stigma prevents many from seeking help.
Parents admit they no longer understand their children. Teachers notice absenteeism, aggression, and substance abuse.
“My son was a topper. Now he barely leaves his room,” said a father in Anantnag, tears in his eyes.
Crime, in this context, isn’t always a cold choice—it is a symptom of untreated trauma, anxiety, and hopelessness.
The Drug Trap
Perhaps the darkest undercurrent in Kashmir’s crime surge is substance abuse.
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Over 70,000 people in Kashmir are addicted to drugs, including children as young as 10 years old.
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Opioids (especially heroin) have overtaken cannabis and alcohol as the most abused substances.
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According to the Ministry of Social Justice, 1 in 14 residents of J&K is involved in substance abuse.
Drug money fuels gangs, and drug withdrawal fuels violence. Hospitals quietly report cases of overdoses, but stigma keeps many hidden.
“Every week we get young boys with needle marks and collapsed veins,” said a doctor at Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital. “The youngest I treated was 13.”
The drug trap is both cause and consequence—pulling youth into crime while deepening Kashmir’s social wounds.
Law Enforcement Gaps
J&K Police have intensified crackdowns, but the challenges are daunting.
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CCTV coverage is limited, especially in residential and rural areas.
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Outdated tools: Investigative resources lag behind evolving street crime tactics.
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Community policing: Trust between citizens and police is fragile, undermining collaboration.
A police officer admitted off-record:
“We can arrest peddlers and gangs, but unless the roots—unemployment, drugs, mental health—are addressed, this will continue. Policing alone cannot fix it.”
External Influences and Digital Provocation
The crisis doesn’t play out only in Kashmir’s alleys. It thrives in the digital space.
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Social media amplifies conflicts, glorifies violence, and spreads misinformation.
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Digital radicalization: Vulnerable youth fall prey to external influences—ideological, cultural, or criminal.
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Peer provocation: Online dares and rivalries often spill into real-life violence.
Experts warn that Kashmir’s youth are more digitally connected but socially isolated, making them easy targets for provocation.
What Needs to Change
The crisis demands systemic reform, not just reactionary policing.
Key interventions:
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Youth employment programs tailored to local industries (tourism, crafts, IT).
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Mental health outreach in schools, mohallas, and colleges.
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Community centers to provide safe spaces for recreation, dialogue, and mentorship.
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Modern policing with better tech, surveillance, and citizen engagement.
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Media literacy campaigns to counter digital manipulation.
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Transparent governance to restore public trust.
Voices from the Ground: Lives Behind the Numbers
While statistics point to Kashmir’s growing crime and drug crisis, the lived experiences of young people, families, and communities tell the real story. Behind every incident lies a face, a voice, and a set of choices shaped by despair, opportunity gaps, and fragile social systems.
A Teenager’s Descent into Violence
Last month, 17-year-old Arif (name changed) was arrested after a knife fight outside a café in Srinagar. Neighbors describe him as “quiet but restless.” His father, a daily-wage laborer, lost his job during the pandemic. With no money for college and little family support, Arif drifted toward a group of older boys who promised him “respect” on the streets.
“It wasn’t about money, it was about being seen,” his childhood friend recalls.
The Family Torn by Drugs
In Baramulla, Rukhsana, a mother of three, hides her eldest son’s photographs when relatives visit. At 22, he is undergoing treatment for heroin addiction. The family has sold jewelry and borrowed from neighbors to keep him in rehab.
“Every morning, I pray he survives the day,” she whispers. “But the drugs are everywhere. How long can we fight this alone?”
Educated but Unemployed
Imran, a postgraduate in commerce from Anantnag, spends most of his afternoons at a tea stall scrolling on his phone. He has applied for over 40 government jobs and dozens of private ones, without success.
“My father was convinced I would bring stability to the family,” he says. “Now, I feel like a burden.”
He admits many of his friends are “half into drugs, half into crime” simply because they have no path forward.
Silent Struggles
At a college in Sopore, a 19-year-old student describes sleepless nights, anxiety, and bouts of panic attacks. With no access to affordable counseling, she journals her fears on scraps of paper.
“We are told to focus on studies, but nobody sees what’s happening in our minds,” she says. “One day, someone breaks down, and people call it weakness. But it’s not weakness—it’s drowning.”
The Policeman’s Dilemma
A young constable stationed in Srinagar admits the challenge is overwhelming.
“We can chase boys in alleys, but we can’t fix why they’re there in the first place,” he says. “We need more than arrests. We need alternatives.”
Closing Editorial: From Crisis to Reform
Kashmir’s rising crime wave is not an isolated blip—it is a mirror of deep economic, social, and psychological wounds.
The region stands at a crossroads. Allow frustration to fester into chaos—or channel it into reform, opportunity, and healing.
The youth of Kashmir deserve more than headlines about knife fights and overdoses. They deserve hope, dignity, and a future.
Data Snapshot (For Reference & Authority)
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Unemployment: 17.1% (highest in India).
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Suicides (2022): 497 cases, 28% of India’s total.
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Drug Addiction: 70,000+ users, 1 in 14 residents affected.
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Youth Violence: Sharp rise in knife attacks & gang altercations.
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CCTV Coverage: Sparse in residential zones.
