Calm or chaos in Kashmir? Contrasting reports emerge

Official govt account of normalcy in the state challenged by foreign media reports of violent protests

Girls with henna decorations to mark Eid al-Adha in Jammu last week. The Indian government said it eased restrictions for the festival. A New York Times image showing demonstrators outside Srinagar on Friday. Ongoing news reports of civilian victims
A New York Times image showing demonstrators outside Srinagar on Friday. Ongoing news reports of civilian victims of pellet-gun injuries trickling into Srinagar's two key hospitals run counter to the government's claim of calm in the Kashmir valley. PHOTO: NYTIMES
Girls with henna decorations to mark Eid al-Adha in Jammu last week. The Indian government said it eased restrictions for the festival. A New York Times image showing demonstrators outside Srinagar on Friday. Ongoing news reports of civilian victims
Girls with henna decorations to mark Eid al-Adha in Jammu last week. The Indian government said it eased restrictions for the festival. PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Photographs of residents making purchases ahead of Eid al-Adha. A series of videos showing India's National Security Adviser engaging in freewheeling chats with locals on the streets. Aerial footage of traffic moving along Srinagar's streets as if it were just another day.

These are some examples of social media content that the Indian government has put online, aimed at conveying a sense of calm in the state of Jammu and Kashmir since the controversial decision to revoke the state's decades-old special status on Aug 5.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on August 18, 2019, with the headline Calm or chaos in Kashmir? Contrasting reports emerge. Subscribe