Dear Editor,
Fear lurks everywhere again in Kashmir Valley after the killing of a militant commander of the Kashmir based Hizbul Mujahideen by Indian security forces on 8th July. Burhan’s aftermath creates total turbulence in Kashmir resulting in rampant protests across the whole Valley. This obviously gives Pakistan a fresh opportunity to fish in troubled waters which it does with great opportunism and vigour. Imagine the Chief Minister asking police to apologise for killing a militant who had taken up arms against the State. Once again grabbing the militant mainstream politico space. The Valley is seething with anger with many termed it as a new phase of freedom struggle and a “now-or-never” situation. It has been over a month since the current unrest began in Kashmir Valley, shattering years of relative stability in a State ravaged by one of the longest running armed conflicts in the world. The pro freedom demonstrations and clashes between protesters and security personnel have become routine thereby giving threat to the national integration. Nothing good can be yielded by indulging in such kind of inhuman acts by the violent protesters. Protesters should have to think that by taking law and order in their hands can only create miseries and mayhem. Only it adds the wretchedness and melancholy to the people of the Kashmir. Economy of the State is getting degraded while the businesses have suffered a huge setback. Therefore concrete steps must have to be formulated by taking into account the perceptions of the stakeholders of the three regions of J and K namely Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, then only normalcy and tranquility can be restored in the soil of so called heaven on earth.
Vivek Koul
Gole Gujral Jammu
