Mubarak Baloch
Kashmir is in the media highlights once again. Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) has continually been in throes. This time valley is mourning the demise of Burhan Muzzafar Wani a 22 years old killed by Indian security forces. The deceased was known for his social media fame and thereby he was known figure in Kashmiri youth. Indian security forces; being empowered under Armed Forces (Special Powers Act) to go to any extent against anyone without being called to accountability, killed him in cold-blood. Kashmiri youth poured out in reaction despite curfew and other restrictions imposed in valley. Over three hundred thousand people participated in his funeral prayers offered at various places in valley. And then Indian security personnel came down hard on the protesters by resorting to brutal use of force. Over sixty people have been killed and scores others have been injured. Security forces have been using “pellet-guns” causing serious injuries to protesters. Reports are that over one hundred people have suffered vision impairment due to damage to ratina as result of pellet injuries. People are seen with pocked faces and bodies dotted with injuries after being hit with pellets.
Anger is growing in intensity and masses’ resentment is proving pervasive. There are orations, slogans and speeches roaring out of the mosques, community centers and other public places decrying forces’ atrocities against innocent people. Reaction from UNO General Secretary Bon Ki-moon, US, Chinese and leaders of a number of other countries condemned the ongoing rising wave of brutal use of force. Realizing the gravity of the obtaining situation Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh have shown his interest in using the influence of religious clerics like Imams of various mosques in New Delhi and elsewhere in country to interact with religious fraternity in occupied valley so that the ongoing wave of unrest is arrested. Imam Umer Ahmed Illyasi, Chief Imam of the All India Imams Organization said that a delegation of Imams would help lower the tension by interacting with local populace and religious figures in the valley.
The issue of Kashmir is not religious in nature, rather it is a political issue of partition era requiring solution as per the aspirations of people in the light of UNSC Resolutions demanding right to self-determination. “They don’t know anything about the Kashmir problem. What will they do here. Kashmir does not need anyone from Delhi”, said Jammu Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Mufti Azam Bashir-ud-Din Ahmed. Similarly Ali Muhammad Sagar General Secretary of National Conference said, ” This is not a religious issue to be addressed by the clerics”. The fame and love for Burhan brought Kashmiri youth out in streets in abundance. People being in rage are violating the curfew and other restrictions with indignant audacity. The ongoing spell of unrest is spontaneous and indigenous without being aided from elements out of occupied Kashmir. It is the young generation of Kashmir which now matters. Youth that experienced and witnessed security forces’ suppressive activities trampling upon the basic human rights since 1990s, is now out in the streets. More repressive will be the behaviour of security forces more reactive could be the youth. Indian leadership must evaluate and analyze the people’s reaction and response. When Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, then CM of IOK died hardly three thousand people turned to participate in his funeral prayer whereas people attended funeral gathering of Burhan in hundreds of thousands.
The use of pellets has further proved as counter-productive. People with blindness, pocked and defaced faces goading the youth to go reactive and jump into the spell of protest demonstration. Everywhere the word “Azadi” is reverberating. Graffitis to that context are seen every here and there in IOK. The intermittent curfew and continual strike has now entered fourth week and economy of the valley is getting badly dented. As per one estimate loss is close to Rs. 1billion in a day. The upsurge in disturbance is identical what was witnessed back in 1990s. This time the unrest’s nerve centre is Kashmiri youth. The latter understands that there is no solution to problem until Indian leadership is cowed down to listen their voice being brutally suppressed. On the other hand Narendra Modi’s pro-Hindu attitude at the cost of diversity has been one of the driving force pushing Kashmiris to rise and make their voice heard. Like populating Hindu Pandits in valley and establishing exclusive corridors for Hindu colonies are with pernicious intent. Besides, central government has been asking Mehbboba Mufti, CM IOK to allot land earmarked for establishing Sainik colonies to build residential colonies for Indian army personnel. Kashmiri youth understands that Modi led government has vicious plan to fiddle with demography of IOK, a ploy to dampen the freedom struggle. International community must raise its voice against security forces brutalities in valley and exercise influence encouraging resolution of Kashmir imbroglio.
