Special Correspondent
Jammu: The Kashmir Unrest, which claimed around 100 lives and left thousands injured, is ‘still alive’ and 2017 is likely to witness hot summer with separatists issuing fresh calendar of ‘Hartals’ once the Darbar moves to the Kashmir Valley.
According to sources, the nerves have not cooled down and the ‘peaceful’ Valley is gearing up for Kashmir Unrest-II when Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti led government shifts to the summer capital in April ending.
“The nerves are still high in the Kashmir Valley. Due to shifting of government to the winter capital and peak winter season, the region witnessed decline in the violence and strikes,” intelligence sources here said.
They said that after the killing of self styled Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani, around 100 youth have joined the terrorist outfits and they reportedly are being ‘in make’ to disrupt peace and normalcy after Darbar Move.
“Burhan’s killing was only an excuse as in the past too, many hardcore terrorists including the top commanders were gunned down by the security forces but Kashmir never witnessed long ever turmoil with people taking part in large,” sources said.
Intelligence sources further said that people in the Kashmir Valley, who never had even thought of their favourite party PDP, joining hands with the BJP, have resentment for an alliance, which they term as ‘unholy’.
“Burhan’s killing added fuel to fire and anger against PDP’s alliance with the Saffron Party, which ultimately took to streets in the Valley in the shape of unrest and violence around,” sources added. However, political analysts feel that this year passing of resolution in the Legislative Council to declare 23rd September –Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh as holiday–will also play spoilsport to disrupt normalcy in the Valley, adding, “winter season is like hibernation period for the trouble-shooters but with the onset of summer, the Valley this year will once again be on boil.”
“The separatists have reportedly chalked down closed door strategies to bring unrest back on streets and misled young minds for their personal gains,” sources added.
They said it was not Burhan’s killing but PDP-BJP alliance in the form of anger, broke out in Kashmir and will prevail till this alliance exists.
“Though people of Jammu also have resentment against BJP for joining hands with PDP but it did not took the shape of violence as it happened in Kashmir,” they maintained.
Meanwhile, security forces including State Police, para-military forces and the army has to tighten their belts ahead of Darbar move to the Kashmir Valley.
Sources however, said that with change of guard in Pakistani Army and the new General, may also play its card in keeping Kashmir issue aggressively alive.
“Pakistan’s ISI, terrorists and the army across the border, will surely be planning something big this time to put Kashmir on boil and disturb peace as usual by all means,” they said.
Due to five-month long Kashmir unrest last year, state suffered losses to the tune of over Rs 16,000 crore due to complete halt of economic activity coupled with loss of property worth crores of rupees.
As per Economic Survey report tabled in the ongoing Assembly session, losses caused due to the unrest from 8th July to 30th November , 2016 are estimated at more than Rs 16,000 crore.
It said that the civil strife caused tremendous miseries, loss of life, complete halt of economic activity in the Valley coupled with loss of property worth crores of rupees.
However, official figures said that the number of tourists who visited the Valley in 2015-16 stood at 6,23,932 including 2,20,490 Amarnath yatris.
“10,059 tourists visited the Valley between 1st to 12th August , against 89,243 tourists during the corresponding period a year earlier. From August the number has fallen drastically,” an official said adding that the tourist season had last year started in April and was in full swing up to 7th July.
As the tourist arrivals to Kashmir have trickled down drastically in the wake of unrest, the local tourism industry is believed to have suffered a massive Rs 4,000 crore loss.
The disappearance of tourists during peak months resulted in loss of business to hoteliers, restaurants, houseboats, handicrafts, Poniwallas, transporters, Shikara Walla and the revenue loss in the second quarter of 2016-17 was of Rs 751.97 lakh (80 per cent) compared to revenue realisation of Rs 936.89 lakh in Q2 of 2015-16.
