DNA Edit: Sabzar Bhat's death is a one-up for the Indian Army

On Saturday, Sabzar Ahmed Bhat, the self-styled successor of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani, was killed in an encounter in the Tral valley in Jammu and Kashmir. This is another key victory for the Indian Armed Forces, achieved in a small period of a year, as Wani was neutralised in 2016. Strategically, there never has been a more opportune time to drive a wedge in the leadership of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Already, fissures inside the militant outfit are erupting with Zakir Musa issuing an audio statement in mid-May threatening to behead Kashmiri leaders at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk for describing the resistance in Kashmir as a “freedom struggle”. He claimed that the resistance was based on Islamic principles of shariah and shahadat, while declaring that he will not spill his blood if the fight for freedom is in the name of secularism. Caught off guard with such a reckless and fanatical statement, the PoK-based Hizbul Mujahideen has distanced itself from Musa’s audio ramblings.

A Hizbul spokesman said that the statement by Musa was his personal opinion and the same wasn’t acceptable to the outfit. Equally outraged, Musa, as though testifying that reality must keep pace with fiction, has distanced himself from the outfit, insisting that the only real freedom struggle in Kashmir will be one executed on the strength of Islamic beliefs. Evidently, ideological confusion informs the Mujahideen’s constitution, which has been dealt a great blow by the death of their much-vaunted leader, Wani, followed immediately by Musa’a alienation and Bhat’s death. As was in the aftermath of Wani’s death, the Valley, once again, seems to be on the boil. Police and protesters have clashed at multiple places, leading to the death of one.

The CRPF should now focus its attention on preventing the escalation of a law and order situation, the likes of which was seen in July last year. Now more than ever, it is time for the state’s political establishment, especially J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Multi, to express her complete and unwavering faith in the Indian government. What’s more, such an expression shouldn’t be reduced to mere tokenism. As it is, the Valley has become a virtual tinderbox, and the blinding of scores of youths by pellets has still not been forgotten. Another area of concern for Mufti  should be the deep disillusionment and cynicism that is setting in the Kashmiri electorate with the Indian polity. A recent Parliamentary by-election saw a voter turnout of just 7 per cent. This should set alarm bells ringing in Delhi power circles.