MAHADEEP SINGH JAMWAL
The past experience of facing situations as of 2008, killing dozens of citizens during a situation created by insane brains conflict almost on no issue or of 2010 witnessing killing of more than a hundred souls in the Valley, have not been taken into account, while handling the present turmoil. The 2010 Kashmir unrest was a series of violent protests and riots in the Kashmir Valley in June 2010, over the killing of three alleged Pakistani infiltrators which later revealed to be a case of a fake encounter of three young men from Nadhial village in Baramulla, by a soldier of Territorial Army, a counter-insurgent and a former special police officer,. The protests erupted by a call by Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Umar Farooq and converting call of protests to a strike by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, citing human rights abuses by security forces. The riot police consisting of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Indian Para-military Forces were subjected to heavy stone pelting by the mob followed by firing of teargas shells, rubber bullets and also live ammunition on the protesters, resulting in 112 deaths including many teenagers. The protests subsided after the Indian Government announced a package of measures aimed at defusing the tensions in September 2010.
A cursory peep into the turmoil’s of 2010 and 2016 will conclude on the same page as Xerox copy of the same material on the subject such as;
o The 2010 storm erupted because of the staged killing of three alleged militants who were civilians in fact, of Rafiabad area lured to army camp by promising them jobs as ‘porters’ for the army and then shot dead in cold blood, in order to claim a cash award. Laterally army convicted seven soldiers, including two officers, and sentenced them to life imprisonment for a staged killing and passing it off as an anti-militancy operation for rewards and remunerations in J and K. This agitation was initially against the killing of innocent villagers but laterally turned out for the killing by the bullets of the security forces. The present turmoil is over killing of Burhan at the beginning but there after with regard to the day to day killing of civilians including minors and serious injuries to thousands serious in nature. There is indication of actions against police for over use of force, which may lead to registration of cases and judicial enquiries.
o The subsequent violent protests of 2010, and stone pelting, a violent mean of creating chaos, by protesters resulted in killing of 112 people in the Valley and hundreds of civilians and security personnel were injured in riots. The history repeated in the same fashion during present turmoil and within a short span of fifteen days, it brought more than fifty civilians dead including minors and seriously injuring thousands on both sides from civilians and forces.
o The then PM of India in 2010, expressing concern over the deaths asked for revisiting operating procedures and ‘non-lethal’, yet effective and more focused’ crowd control measures to deal with the violent protesters. About the present turmoil, the Home Minister of India Raj Nath, stated that they do not want a relation with Kashmir that is based on necessities; we want a relation that is based on emotional bonds. The rubber bullets have been widely condemned and its alternate sought.
o The then CM of J and K in 2010, called for withdrawal of AFSPA. However BJP opposed it and saw the hand of Inter Services Intelligence behind the protests. Whereas the present CM have also spoken in the same rhythm, that a start has to be made from somewhere to improve the situation in the state and suggested revocation of AFSPA from some area, it is too removed slowly on experimental basis.
o J and K Police in 2010 claimed that there exists a nexus that raises money to make payments for stone pelting. Similar views are expressed at present also including many politicians.
o In 2010, subsequently all party meeting was held at Delhi by PM advancing written invitations including Kashmir separatists, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. Similar views of all party meeting are trickling from various quarters at present.
o Indian Government announced many measures including release of all students arrested during the protests, discussion on reducing the number of security forces in Kashmir and financial package. Till date, such expected packages are awaited from the centre with regard to present ongoing turmoil.
o In 2010, the BJP party was on streets not only in Jammu but also in Delhi, asking for abrogation of article 370, imposition of Governors’ rule and many other formulae for dealing with the situation. However, this time when BJP is partner in power, its lips are sealed and BJP’s ideologically, VHP has cropped forward requesting parliamentarians to rise above the party line and make a unified efforts to remove separatists and special provision from the constitution of India. VHP State President said in spite of paying heavy price of both of sacrifices of forces and pumping funds collected from the taxes of people of India. Both the governments central as well as state have given only lip services and never concrete steps have been taken to go to the real cause of separatist’s mentality.
o As in 2010, some police and administrative heads are expected to roll presently also, with registration of cases against some police officers and some enquiries in the forces also.
o As in 2010, the Central Government of the time, too issued statements and warning to Pakistan against spearheading terrorism in India and same is repeated by the government today. Now the Pakistan has gone a bit further by adopting a resolution in Cabinet and observing 19 July 2016 as ‘Black Day’ to express solidarity with Kashmir people, over killing of Burhan Wani. Whereas our Union Government responding only with issuance of statements such as; “We are dismayed at the continued attempts by Pakistan to interfere in our internal affairs, where, we reiterate, Pakistan or any other external party has no Locus Standi. ‘India completely and unequivocally rejects in entirely the decisions adopted by the cabinet of Pakistan on the situation of J and K’ and nothing more than that.
(To be continued)
