Winter of discontent in Kashmir

It is déjà vu 2010 in Kashmir.

`Pro-azadi’ groundswell, stone-pelting, hartals, curfews and large scale destruction have become endemic to Kashmir in 2013. Winter of discontent has replaced the restive summer of 2010

The aftermath of Afzal Guru’s execution and the civilian killings by forces has once again put the valley on the edge. Four people have so far died and hundreds injured in different incidents across Kashmir since February 9.

According to police, 192 persons including 109 policemen and 73 CRPF personnel were injured while tackling law and order situation in south Kashmir alone. Police said 10 civilians were also injured though the locals and human rights groups put the civilian injuries in hundreds.

 “During the past few days’ 103 vehicles including eighteen civil, two tourists, 35 police, 45e CRPF and three government vehicles suffered damage at the hands of miscreants in stone pelting at various places in south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Awantipora, Kulgam and Shopian”, a police spokesperson said

Police said the miscreants also damaged the windowpanes of court complex Dooru and a Rest House. “Windowpanes and two computers of a private company at Semthan were also damaged. Miscreants also damaged a hotel in Pulwama and an animal husbandry building in Shopian”, he said.

Police said some miscreants pelted stones on an ambulance at Palhallan resulting in damage to the vehicle and injuries to driver. While chasing the miscreants’ five persons including three policemen received minor injuries, police said.

“Those claiming 80 percent Kashmiris have voted for India are now not in a position to get even eight people to stand up to say we are Indians. Omar Abdullah should tell his masters in New Delhi that keeping Hurriyat leaders behind the bars, imposing curfew and using lathis and bullets cannot solve the problem”, said Sheikh Abdul Rasheed aka Engineer Rasheed, independent MLA from Langate.

Police have launched massive crackdown against alleged stone throwers and arrested dozens of suspects from different areas across Kashmir. Police claimed to have arrested four stone pelters for extortion in Sopore.

Several separatists’ leaders have already been arrested while some of them have been put under house arrest. Nocturnal raids are being carried out on the residence of separatists in Kashmir.

“On one side the so called ruler sheds crocodile tears on television and try to impress common people but on the other these rulers through their police and forces have unleashed a reign of terror in Kashmir”, said Bashir Ahmad Butt, vice-chairman of JKLF.

Kashmiri non-migrant pandits too have jumped the bandwagon to hit out at centre for its callous approach towards the situation in Kashmir.

“Dead cases are being exhumed from the dusty file racks to add fuel in the turmoil to make it grimmer for the people of Kashmir especially minorities”, said Sanjay Tickoo, president Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Simiti.