Where we are born, we are supposed to taste death as well. And, whenever we talk of death, we get some aching feeling inside. We literally condemn the same and beg for our safety and for the safety of others. As this Article is about the “deaths” so, let me strongly continue by saying “death’s in Kashmir are happening in the most brutal ways”, why not to call all the dead as victims of conflict.
On 6th May, 2017 at Malpora, Kulgam jummu and kashmir five Kashmiri were killed. For almost six hours the identification of the slain were not clear rather many confusing reports were circulating on the different social networking sites about their identity. Soon the identifications got revealed among which three were recognised as civilians, one JK police man and one, a lashker toiba Commander.While I’m writing this piece, the two among the slains – LeT Commander “FAYAZ AHMED” & JK police constable “AZHAR MEHMOOD”, are being given farewell & the tribute.The former’s at his native village, Qohimuh Kulgam, & the latter’s in district police lines, Kulgam.The common people of the Kulgam gave tribute to the slain LeT commander by joining his funeral in masses.The children, men, women, young & old were chanting pro-freedom and pro-Pakistani slogans while taking him for the burial.The gunmen who probably were from his cadre appeared in funeral and gave him gun salute. The Pakistani, the jummu and kashmir and Islamic flags were waved during his funeral, even the Pakistani flag was along his body when he was taken to the graveyard.
On the other hand, the slain police man was given tribute by men of his department at district police lines, Kulgam. Seniors, juniors, all top brass of the police department joined ceremony . He too was given the gun salute. His dead body was covered with tri-colour. The scene was heartbreaking when his body reached his home.The cries of young, old, women, men and children were all around.
The mourning aswell as the tribute was given to the both but by the different people and in a different way,so I object the claims of those who say that there is selective mourning in Kashmir, which altogether is wrong. The truth is that mourning is done here and everywhere in the world for the person who’s death is considered as the loss to the institution ,state or the society. The death of the policeman was loss to the police department and his family so they mourned where as the people who consider the death of LeT man loss mourned for him. Each death is loss for some sections of society in particular and is nation’s loss in general. When you see such sudden untimely and brutal killings happening in Kashmir, some join the funeral by their physical appearances while some condemn the same by speech, tweet, etc. some people are not able to present themselves. We have been judged all the time and in the way we have been curtailed of our rights in every means. Point is not to judge on the mere things one is able to see that too without living the life in Kashmir and without living the life as Kashmiri. Those who judge and claim that there is difference, I would like to say you may not be wrong in saying so for the reasons of your own personal assessments because you say what you are shown and the things here are altogether different.
Two funerals in south kashmir encapsulate the whole story
The only difference found in the two funerals probably is the way people were eager to get the glimpse of the Slain LeT commander. In the slain police man’s home, if you observe the videos closely, you will find the cries of the family, and of nears and dears only. The reason is probably the orthodox situation JK police is stuck in. They have pound shells on their own people. They have to follow the rules and orders to continue their services. They abuse and get abused. They work neck to neck with other forces to quell protests and in anti -millitancy operations. Then, they have are part of the same society. They have to confront the same people . Some in their support say they do this all for the livelihood and for their families. They say they struggle for their families. The ground situation is very grim here. This face of the Jammu & Kashmir police is unacceptable to their own people and society. They are considered as villians.The two funerals revealed it all, the death of the policeman was mourned by his colleagues and family only .Barely ten kilometers away tens of thousands mourned the death of LeT commander who is believed to be involved in killing of the policeman .
Death not only brings one’s life to a full circle but also leaves its impact on the lives of others. Straightly if I talk of cold blood killings, how one can justify the same. The situations are seen every now and then in Kashmir and every single day people witness such brutalities. What would be the fun of this living, or would it be justifiable to call ourselves humans after allowing such incidents to occur and re-occur every day? If we see practically, now the people of kashmiri have learned to live the life here under these extremely difficult circumstances. We are not accepting these circumstances but we are now fully prepared to face these circumstances. This is the life of me and the life of every single individual living here. Life in the most drastic and terrified state.
(The author is a student at SSM College of Engineering & Technology Srinagar. The views expressed are author’s own but not of “Kashmir Horizon”)
