Srinagar, Kashmir managed by India - In a quiet laser clinic managed in India, Srinagar, the largest city in Kashmir, sat on his arm, his arms outstretched and his eyes were faded along the faded ink on his skin.

The word “Azadi” (freedom in Urdu) was once a bold symbol of resistance to Indian rule, slowly disappearing under the sting of lasers. The mark of resistance has become a burden he no longer wants to bear.

Sameer, 28, watched the ink disappear, his mind falling on a day he would never forget. He was riding a motorcycle with a friend when Indian security forces stopped them at a checkpoint.

During the strike, one of the officers pointed at his arm tattoo and asked, "What is this?"

Sameer's heart beats. “I’m lucky that he couldn’t read Urdu,” he told Al Jazeera, whose voice was related to memory. "It was a close call. At that time I knew this tattoo would put me in serious trouble."

When he was young, tattoos were “a sign of strength, perseverance.”

"But now I think it's a mistake. It doesn't represent who I am anymore. It's not worth the risk, nor is it worth sticking to something that might hurt me in the future."

Sameer is one of many young Kashmiris who choose to erase tattoos that once reflected their political beliefs, emotional struggles or identity. Once worn with pride, the tattoo will now become increasingly quiet throughout the region without a big fanfare.

Although a trend to remove tattoos has begun, the urgency has deepened since 1947 India and Pakistan fought three wars with Kashmir as an independent state that became independent in 1947.

New Delhi accused Islamabad of supporting the armed insurgency that broke out on the Indian side in 1989. Pakistan rejected the allegation, saying it only provides moral diplomatic support to the separatist movement in Kashmir.

Two weeks after India's Pahalgam launched the Dawn Dawn drone and missile strikes in so-called "terrorist camps" inside Pakistan and Pakistan-managed Kashmir on May 7, the most extensive cross-border missile strike since the war since 1971, was the world's nuclear power in the south for the next three days until the breathing range of New York State was announced, until a declared attack was announced, until a declared fight was announced.

However, in Kashmir, managed by India, peace remains fragile, and the suppression of Indian troops has caused the region to be plagued by fear. The homes of suspected insurgents have been destroyed, others have been attacked, and more than 1,500 people have been arrested since the Pahalgam attack, many under the Preventive Detention Act.

“We feel it on the skin”

In such a tense atmosphere, many Kashmiris youth said they felt exposed - even easier to censor the most personal forms of expression.

"Every time anything happens between India and Pakistan, we feel this on our skin - literally," Rayees Wani, 26, a resident of Shopian District, told Al Jazeera.

"I have a tattoo on my arm with the name of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the leader of Hriat, and after the pahalgam attack, I started to create a strange look at the checkpoints," he said. He refers to the separatist leader, who is referring to the 91-year-old separatist in 2021.

"Even my friends asked me questions about my discomfort. The media, the police and even the neighbors started looking at you in different ways," Rayees added.

"I just want people to understand that tattoos don't define someone's loyalty or personality. We're just trying to live, not explaining ourselves every day. I want to eliminate that as soon as possible."

Arsalan, 19, from Pulwama, recently booked a tattoo removal session. He did not share his last name for fear of revenge from the authorities.

"People with visible tattoos, especially those who suggest past political affiliations - suddenly worry that they will be introduced, questioned or worse," he said.

To be sure, the tattoo culture itself did not disappear in Kashmir. Tattoo studios are still busy, especially with clients between the ages of 22 and 40, many of whom are waiting for hours to ink. But the trend has changed. Nowadays, people prefer minimalist designs, natural-style patterns, names or meaningful quotes than political or religious tattoos.

Some Kashmiris try to get rid of tattoos, which is part of their personal evolution and growth.

“For me, it’s about being brave,” Irfan Yaqoob of Baramulla district told Al Jazeera. Yaqoob, 36, had a tattoo of the name of a murdered rebel on his left arm as a teenager.

"At that time, it felt like a symbol of courage. But now, as I looked at it, I realized how much I've changed. Life has moved on, and so have I. I have a family, a job and different priorities. I don't want my past to define me or cause trouble in the present. That's why I decided to cancel it.

Many reasons to delete a tattoo

It's not just pushing many Kashmiris security forces to get rid of tattoos.

For some, tattoos remind people of a turbulent past. For others, they become a barrier, especially when they try to move forward professionally or want to align with their personal beliefs.

Anas Mir, who also lives in Srinagar, has a tattoo of a sword written on it, which says “Azadi”. He deleted it a few weeks ago.

"People didn't say clearly why they were removing tattoos. I just deleted my tattoo because of the pressure from my family."

"This is the tattoo I chose. What kind of tattoo I want. If someone has an AK-47 or a political tattoo, that's their choice. The authorities or the government should not intervene. Yes, the tattoo trends have also changed over time.

One of the key reasons behind people who remove tattoos is religion. In Muslim-majority areas, tattoos, especially those with religious or political messages, may often conflict with the doctrine of faith.

Faheem, 24, had Quranic verses engraved on his back when he was 17.

"At that time, I thought it was an act of faith," he told Al Jazeera. "But then, I realized that tattoos - especially the Bible - were discouraged (in Islam). It started to disturb me deeply. Whenever I offered Namaz (prayer) or went to the mosque, I felt introverted. Unfortunately. With me.

Many others say they share the feeling. Some people visit religious scholars and ask whether tattoos affect their prayers or beliefs. Although most people are advised not to live in past actions, they are encouraged to take steps that bring them closer to their beliefs.

“It’s not about blaming anyone,” said Ali Mohammad, a religious scholar in Srinagar. “It’s about growing up and understanding. When someone realizes that what they’ve done in the past is no longer aligned with their beliefs and they take steps to correct it, it’s a sign of maturity, not shame.”

Another key factor driving tattoo removal is work safety. In Kashmir, government work is seen as stable and prestigious. However, having tattoos, especially those with political references, can cause problems during recruitment or background checks.

Talib only revealed his name, and he had a Quranic poem like an AK-47 rifle on his forearm. When he applied for a government position, family friends in law enforcement suggested that this could be a problem.

"He didn't say it straight, but I could tell him he was worried," the 25-year-old said. "I've been avoiding half-sleeved shirts ever since. I've got a lot of rejections and no one gives a clear reason, but deep down I know tattoos are a problem. It feels like a wall between me and my future."

Clinics in other regions of Kashmir managed in Srinagar and India are seeing steady growth in customers as demand for tattoo removal increases. Once rare laser courses have been booked a few weeks in advance.

Mubashir Bashir, a famous tattoo artist in Srinagar, also runs a tattoo removal service, said: “After the death of a popular singer in 2022, the trend for AK-47 tattoos exploded,” Bashir said. Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala's music often glorifies guns, and he was killed in May 2022. Police blamed his death on his death.

"But now, especially after the Pahalgam attack, we're seeing more people getting rid of these tattoos. The fear is real," Mubashir said.

He estimates that India has abolished Kashmir's semi-autonomous status since 2019 and launched a major crackdown, arresting thousands of civilians, and tens of thousands of tattoos have been removed in the region over the past seven years. "Some people say tattoos don't represent them anymore. Others mention the problem when they work or travel," Mubashir said.

Laser tattoo removal is not easy. It takes multiple meetings, spends thousands of rupees, and can be painful. Even after successful deletion, faint scars or traces often remain. But for many Kashmiris, the pain is worth it.

Sameer's "Azadi" tattoo almost disappeared, and he remembers the emotional weight of the process. "I didn't cry when I got the tattoo," he said. "But when I started deleting it, I cried. It felt like I let go of part of myself."

Still, Sameer thinks it is the right choice. "It has nothing to do with shame," he said. "I respect who I am. But I want to grow. I want to live without looking up at my shoulders."

When he finished another laser training, the scar left of the word was Kashmir’s freedom war.

“I will never forget what a tattoo means to me when I was 18,” Sameer said as she rolled down. "But now, I want to be a newcomer. I want a life without the old shadow."