Mubarak Baloch
Kashmir imbroglio has yet again surfaced in media after killing of Burhan Wani, a freedom fighter at hands of Indian security personnel. People came out in droves paying homage to assassinated youngster while attending his funeral prayer. Enraged public could not control its emotions when Indian security forces resorted to brutal force to suppress the agitational activities. Valley is presently by and large shut. Over three dozen people have been killed so far.
As per media reports two hundred thousand more Indian army personnel have been called in to control the brewing situation. The more military muscle would be inducted the more reaction would be natural from the local populace. Indian security personnel have unprecedented powers to kill and dump without being called to accountability. Courts are hesitant to take up such cases and people are naturally forced to come head on with security forces. Over fifty thousand people have been killed by Indian security forces in valley ever since the freedom movement got accelerated in eighties.
People in valley are much reactive towards the proliferating Hindutva being propagated by BJP led government. Killing, maiming, keeping in incommunicado, destroying homes and raping female-folk are the abominable acts being committed against the population. Grisly incidents of forcing Muslims boys to eat cow dung and drink its urine are hardly reported in media. Lately face of Engineer Abdul Rashid Shaikh member IOK legislative assembly was blackened in an effort to disgrace him. To bring about change in the demography of Kashmir a project is in hand with central government to populate Pandits in Indian Occupied Kashmir along with a large number of their Hindu-folk followers. This is the apparent aim of the government whereas the underhand scheme is to fiddle with demographic mosaic of valley.
Apart from the exchange of barbs between Pakistan and India over Kashmir dispute India is yet to implement UNSC resolution on Kashmir. India had taken the issue to UNSC which issued a resolution asking it to allow Kashmiris the right to self-determination by holding plebiscite in the valley. This is now a heavy stone hanging around the neck of India. Pakistan has been asking for the implementation of UNSC resolutions. Indian intransigent attitude and dithering over the issue has complicated the situation. Moreover, security situation of the region also hinges over this dispute and few more minor irritants between the two countries. Rise to extremism cannot be checked unless core issue of Kashmir is resolved following the spirit of UN Security Council resolutions. Brewing Hindu extremism targeting religious minorities and other marginalized segments of society is not helping the situation to improve. In fact it was the last Friday killing incident of youngster Burhan Wani which triggered unrest against security forces crackdown. The growing unrest caught Indian Prime Minister’s attention who along with his top aides mulling over to quell the violent unease.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Huriyat leader has rightly cautioned Modi administration advising to desist from using more force as such a situation would strengthen people’s resolve to resentment. He remarked that people are not demanding jobs, perks and privileges, and development schemes. It is in fact the issue of Kashmir’s status as disputed territory needing to be resolved while implementing the UNSC Resolutions asking for holding plebiscite. The ongoing unrest is coincidently happening through 13 July, ‘the martyrs day’. Exactly 85 years back in 1931 people of Kashmir had stood against the then ruler who resorted to brute force to put down the popular public resistance. In the same vein, people have been continuing with their struggle challenging forcible occupation of their territory by India.
Recently, another sinister scheme of Indian government surfaced. Central government has asked for a large chunk of land to establish a ‘Sainik Colony’ to settle Indian army officers and other ranks. Correspondence between central and IOK government took place when there was Governor Rule in IOK after the death of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in January this year. Hurriyat leadership and other leaders in IOK have solid resolve to resist such a move which aims to not only dampen freedom struggle but also dent the demography of IOK. Mehbboba Mufti, CM IOK has not confirmed as yet about such correspondence of central government demanding land allotment despite the fact that Daily Indian Express (dated 06 May 2016) in its report leaked a portion of letter believed to be part of correspondence between central government and IOK administration.
