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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera

‘Fear is real’: Why young Kashmiris are removing tattoos of guns, ‘freedom’

A 17-year-old Kashmiri boy gets his AK-47 tattoo removed [Numan Bhat/Al Jazeera]

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – In a quiet laser clinic in Indian-administered Kashmir’s biggest city, Srinagar, Sameer Wani sits with his arm stretched out, his eyes following the fading ink on his skin.

The word “Azadi” (freedom in Urdu), once a bold symbol of rebellion against India’s rule, slowly disappears under the sting of the laser. What was once a mark of defiance has become a burden he no longer wants to carry.

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