The spate of killings Sopore witnessed last week of former militants one cannot rule out these incidents as just killings but there appears a set pattern to the incidents. All these killings were blamed as the handiwork of Indian agencies and Valley saw shut-down and protest. The reality could be that the killings are the result of an intensified domination war within the militant outfits and the former or surrendered militants. If intelligence agencies have to carry out these killings of formers militants of banned Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, they could have done much earlier. But what we are forgetting is that there are elements who are bent upon creating unrest to keep Kashmir boiling and defame Indian agencies and one such element could be the notorious ISI for creating such a situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The normalising of atmosphere in J and K could be disturbing for ISI which would not hesitate to vitiate the atmosphere by targeting some of the separatists even to keep public disorder alive . Earlier at the behest of ISI, militants killed Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone on 21st May, 2002 in downtown Srinagar. ISI’s hand has also been seen in the past incidents of stone throwing , vadalisation. The sick mentality of separatists and their patrons is reflection of what is happening in Kashmir Valley and the motto is ‘keep the fire going on’. If one goes by the fact it is the Hizbul Mujahideen faction led by Qayyum Nazzar , also known as ‘Qayum Nazarwala’, allegedly behind these killings and had prepared a list of people to be eliminated. The list has been rejected by Salahuddin as it contained the names of prominent Hurriyat and Jamaat members whose killings could have discredited the group and possibly invite a backlash. The killing pattern ascertained the fact that the internal war among the militant outfits and ranks is on to get command of the situation in the Valley. Of late Valley saw tourist season picking up which is what Kashmiris look forward to during summers and any disturbance on this front would affect their life.
