In June 2010, two youths were killed in Sopore during a protest demanding the recovery of the bodies of alleged militants killed in an encounter. This triggered a massive campaign against the Indian Government, and since then, many parts of the valley have come under curfew. There have been numerous protests and more killings everyday.

At the time of Partition in 1947, Kashmir was part of neither Pakistan or India. Kashmir's Maharaja Hari Singh was forced to seek India’s help to fight the invading Pashtun militia, backed by the Pakistani government. Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to supply Indian troops to establish peace in the valley, but on condition that the Maharaja agreed to accession to India. He did. The Indian Army entered the valley and installed Sheik Mohammad Abdullah, the leader of the National Conference Movement, as Prime Minster of Kashmir. In February 1948, the UN brokered a resolution under which a plebiscite was to be held to determine the question of accession. Under the same resolution, military forces were to leave the valley after the plebiscite. Exasperated by the continuous presence of the Indian Army, the Kashmiris resorted to armed rebellion in 1989. The valley has been a theatre of conflict ever since.

Photographs by Sami Siva