Kashmir once known as ‘Paradise on Earth’ is now a land of bullet ridden bodies, everyday funerals , protests, devastating cries , gloomy faces, melancholic atmosphere, blind youth , pulverised homes, orphaned children’s , half widows , unmarked graves, mentally challenged mothers etc. Moreover, the land is the saga of broken promises, deceits , gimmick politics and sadistic political vultures who from time to time shattered and derailed the political aspirations of the people of Kashmir for their own interests and their selfish pockets. The recent three unarmed civilian killings at the hands of security forces in Chadoora village of Central Kashmiri’s Budgam district again fuelled heavy laxity and clouted the little salubrious atmosphere across conflict ridden Kashmir valley . The three unarmed civilian killings was followed by one day strike and massive stone pelting across valley in which more than two dozens of youth received pellet injuries. Moreover, the three unarmed killings at the hands of security forces went again unnoticed before in the eyes of government who frequently are saying that ( Bath Goli Sai Nehie , Boli Sai Chalie Gie ) but today what we are witnessing are only bullets and deadly pellets raining over people of Kashmir who want their land free from occupants and the old tormentors. However, the time and again civilian killings with the hands of security forces ,the longtime reign of oppression , humiliation , arbitrary arrests are few reasons or we can say tip of the iceberg for time and again mass uprisings in Kashmir valley. In this unfortunate part of the world more than one lakh Kashmiri’s were killed and maimed by Indian security forces but not a single state abuser or murderer was thrown behind bars or dealt with an iron hand rather the security forces are enjoying sweeping of powers and full impunity to kill and maim every kashmiri in the name of pseudo “Law and Order”. With the brutal and repressive strategies of Indian security forces the youth of the valley remained frustrated , distraught and over – powered . It’s true that the youth of the valley will not be blamed for daily uncertainty and laxity across Kashmir but it is traditional political vultures, Indian paramilitaries, fragmented and unaccountable judicial system who shattered , trampled and asphyxiated the dreams and the profound aspirations of the talented and educated youth of Kashmir ( The New age of militants are well educated and talented ). It’s pertinent to mention here that today’s youth are not bankrupted and poor but they know each and everything about the daily changing trends and development’s of the contemporary world. However, the present alienation and the deep knavery among youth of the valley are not because they want economic packages, government jobs with big salaries or scholarships but they lack the sense of freedom , liberty and equal opportunities. Every day in and out their freedom of expression is being expunged , liberty is being molested and infringed and during every opportunity they are being deprived and neglected.
We firmly believe that to give right to self – determination to the oppressed and brutalised people of Kashmir will not weaken or disintegrate the integrity and diversity of India but it will be the first step from the Indian side towards the real prosperity and spirit of democracy in the modern history of the South Asia.
Moreover, the present coalition led government is equally responsible. The government had not learnt any lesson from the post mass uprising in which more than a hundred unarmed civilians were killed like coots in wetlands, tens and thousands wounded, one thousand lost their eye sight and thousands were booked under draconian Public Safety Act. One can say that there is no change in the brutal policies of the government towards the people of Kashmir as we have witnessed the events of Padgampora and Chadoora were unarmed civilians were killed by armed forces. Indeed, the state maintainer’s should have learnt a lesson from the past mistakes but unfortunately they are frequently doing what they had done in the recent 2016 mass uprising which is also known as ‘Burhan Aftermath’ and ‘ Summer of Dead Eyes’. By way of Conclusion , before Kashmir valley which remained volatile and furious from the last seven decades will met with another year of mass – uprising, before graves will get warm again and bullets fly over snow – caved mountains of Kashmir valley , there is need of an hour to start a peaceful political dialogue between New Delhi, Islamabad and the people of Kashmir. It’s pertinent to note here that the longtime undecided and unsolved Kashmir conflict has caused mammoth miseries, destruction and everyday stumbles in Kashmir whether by way of innocent lives or by the loss of huge property. It is one of the main source of rivalries , aggressions and contentions between the two democratic, neighboring and nuclear armed countries of South Asian region India and Pakistan. We firmly believe that to give right to self – determination to the oppressed and brutalised people of Kashmir will not weaken or disintegrate the integrity and diversity of India but it will be the first step from the Indian side towards the real prosperity and spirit of democracy in the modern history of the South Asia.
(Javeed Bin Nabi studying International Relations at Islamic University of Science and Technology(IUST) Awantipora writes exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. The views expressed by the author are his personal )