Meta has restricted access to a report in India on Kashmir pellet victim Insha Mushtaq from its platform, Instagram.

“We restricted access to this content pursuant to legal requirements under India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules,” reads the message on the link to the post on The Hindu report, as on Saturday afternoon (August 8, 2026).

In the wake of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and youths at Jantar Mantar on July 20, the use of pellet guns came under scanner. The Supreme Court was also hearing petitions against its use.

The renewed focus on pellets spurred the J&K government to announce an LPG dealership for Ms. Mushtaq after a period of 10 years.

Ms. Mushtaq was preparing her Class 8th examination by the window of her home, when the security forces, chasing protesters, opened a barrage of pellets in July 2016. Dozens of pellets hit Ms. Mushtaq in her eyes, blinding her for life.

Meta ramps up censorship of protest, political reels

Over 6000 civilians suffered pellet injuries in 2016 when street protests broke out after the killing of a Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter in south Kashmir.