Vol: 03
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Issue: 10
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25 th April - 1 tst May 2016
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Monday
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English Weekly
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Pages: 16
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Rs: 5/-
Poem about ‘FACEBOOK’
Mouj Kasheer MEER OSHAIM
In thy parvis, O! Mouj Kasheer
Syed Tajamul IMRAN
Each fritter between the sky and ground Lies under a cloud of doubt Why would you not wail, Mouj Kasheer?
First thing in the morning Click of a button you’re running Angry, I can "shout-out" Writing words in caps locked Events, I can always share To let my friends be aware Inspired, a quote or two Even silly things will and may do Questions, I can ask In seconds one will answer back Classmates, long lost friends found Now connected catching up lost time Impossible things are made possible Though sometimes I get into trouble You have changed my world Do things I thought I never would Awake late at night, uploading New profile picture, cropping Last thing before I go to sleep Smile on my lips I would keep On my status I will leave a note My friends’ comments, I seek out Anticipating on the next morning Comments, likes and lovely greetings
The author is a Student activist, Pursuing MBA and can be reached at syedtajamul09@gmail.com
Skies cry every day, here Tormented are the souls To squash each rising voice One more life, they shear Each corpse of your men Leave scuff marks in your sand Nightingales, in thy gardens, sing eulogies Let them sing songs of freedom too, in thy glen They will stretch the truth of each move Still stand your ground You have witnessed the oppressed dusks Free dawns will smile too.
0126oshaim@gmail.com Student BSc 1st year
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RAFIABAD LAND SINKING: 21 FAMILIES AT RISK Locals demand immidiate relocation; SDM Sopore assures safety ADNAN DAR Brandub The residents of Brandub, a village of Rohama Rafiabad are in a continuous fear due to land sinking in the area from last few weeks. The residents claim that due to land sinking dozens of villages have developed huge cracks and want authorities to shift them to safer places. Five kilometers away from Rohama-native place of MLA Rafiabad Yawar Dilwar Mir, Brandub witnessed massive landslides in last few weeks and the sinking of land has created a fear in the whole area with authorities in a deep slumber. According to locals the whole village consisting of some 21 families started sinking due to incessant rains. “We are 21 families and the lands on which our houses are constructed have started sinking. We fear for our lives. We appealed to authorities several times to shift us to some other safer zone but they are in a deep
slumber. The sinking of land started actually in 2011 and recently due to the incessant rains it started sinking more. We need a patch of land where we can live safely. But administration don’t take it seriously,” said Abdul Aziz Khan, a resident of Brundub. Due to continuous rains past few weeks, Brandub village witnessed massive landslides and land sinking in the area creating a fear psychosis among the residents. Houses have developed huge cracks and the land is sinking down continuously towards ‘Zulfi Nallah’, a Nallah passing near by the village. Locals claim that past few years Zulfi Nallah was dry but after land sinking incident water has started emerging from this Nallah. Meanwhile, due to the landslides a portion of a road connecting Brandub with other parts of area has been washed away recently creating more problems for the residents. However, SDM Sopore, Bashir Ahmad Bhat during a visit to the area said that it is a matter of grave concern for us and we will soon take some steps to relocate the effected families to some safer place. “A patch of forest land has been identified
Picture By EESHAN PEER and we will shift the affected families to that place only. The situation at Brandub is of great concern for us. The land has started sinking at a rapid speed due to incessant rains and we will soon shift these families to safer places. I assure you that we will soon shift them to a safe forest land,” SDM added.
BSNL’s ERATIC SERVICES; WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? Operator alleges Private operators of ‘disrupting’ its service network
EESHAN PEER Baramulla Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) services have irked the customers of North Kashmir from past few weeks. People blame BSNL of creating problems due to ‘no services’. According to reports, BSNL services have been affected for more than 48 hours in entire North Kashmir. Many BSNL subscribers told Varmul Post that it is not the first time BSNL services went down but it is a usual process here in North Kashmir. They also claim that BSNL doesn’t even pay the losses to its customers. “This is not for the first time that BSNL services went down in this part of world but it is a daily routine now. This is the age of technology and here in Kashmir we still get erratic cellular services. From last 48 hours not only the cellular services but broadband services are also down,” said Abid Hussain Dar, a BSNL customer. Many subscribers told that they are mulling to switch over to other service providers as BSNL authorities are in no mood to enhance the services. From journalists, advocates, doctors, officials to locals, all are of the opinion that in this contemporary age, BSNL
failed to provide smooth services to its customers. However according to highly placed sources at BSNL, the deep cuts in OFC at various places are due to animosity of private cellular companies who don’t want to see BSNL flourish in this area. “When the internet services were barred by government following Handwara killings, it was only BSNL which provided smooth services to its customers through its broadband. Such things do confuse private cellular companies. Instead of providing cheap and better services to customers they cut our OFC cables at several places, in order to irk BSNL customers. This definitely helps them as customers switch over to other cellular providers,” an official source wishing anonymity said. Pertinently seven nodes of OFC had cuts near Ajas (Bandipora) and Pattan creating problems for the customers with both cellular and broadband services down. Blaming opposite parties (private telecom operators) of this mess, an official at BSNL office Baramulla said that few private telecom owners are having certain issues with BSNL. He even said that some BSNL employees are also involved in this mess. “Certain private cellular providers are behind this. Due to some petty issues, they cut our over head cables near Ajas Bandipora. We are verifying the issue and we will soon take harsh steps against the people involved in it,” he added. Meanwhile upon several attempts of contacting General Manager BSNL, he couldn’t be reached on phone.
SHOWKAT JAN Tragbal, Bandipora Tragbal is a picturesque meadow located in district Bandipora. Sky touching deodars fencing this pasture present a view of green carpet spread over a vast area. During the summers the dhokas of Gujjar and Bakerwal community with their flock of sheep, enhances its beauty. The fragrance of wild flowers refreshes the whole environment. The chirping birds, the gushing winds and the peace, it is heaven here. But people heard that a proposal has been forwarded to turn this paradise into hell. Alas! This picturesque valley will not listen to the chirps of birds now but of exploding shells. The green carpet will now wear a burnt look. Tragbal will be a new firing range for government forces. The proposal to setting up a firing range in this picturesque area will not only destroy its beauty and charm but also will have an impact on nearby villages. Unexploded mortar shells from Tragbal can turn hundreds of these shepherd limbs less. Some
may even lose their lives. People believe that Tragbal being on a high altitude will create problems for the neighboring villages also as already happened in case Tosa Maidan firing range. Youth leader Bandipora, Towheed Shiekh while talking to Varmul post said that once the firing range will be shifted to Tragbal, it will turn this area into hell. The unexploded shells can easily make their way into villages as Tragbal is located at a high altitude. "We are aware of the Tosa Maidan and its exploitation from the last few decades. After much difficulty it was freed from army. The damage of Flora and Fauna, loss of human lives can't be ignored all these years, and we can’t let people suffer due to another firing range. Handing over the Tragbal meadows of Bandipora for artillery training is not at all acceptable to us," he said. Sheikh also claimed that these meadows can be turned into tourist spots. On one hand government emphasis on employment generation via tourism and on other hand it snatching the food bowls of its natives. “It will be impossible for the nearby villagers to go the Tragbal meadows, since their lives are completely dependent on it. We go there for fire wood, for Herb's, for over selves and for our cattle. Most of us earn our live hood as shepherds, we are
using Tragbal Meadows as our pastures,� said Mohd Sultan, a shepherd by profession. Moreover the area has a huge presence of wildlife. Rare species like snow leopard, Kashmiri stag, Hangul, musk deer have been sighted in Tragbal area. But once the firing range will be established here, there is a certain threat to these endangered species. Latief Lone, a local said that the wildlife population throughout the valley is rapidly declining because of extensive deforestation resulting in the loss of natural habitat for wildlife. Proposal of setting up firing range in the Tragbal area will be responsible for massive destruction of wildlife in the area. When the snow melts, the water in Bonaar rises up, passing through the Tragbal meadow, which later mixes into Wullar lake also. And unfortunately the proposed firing range will not only turn ground water poisoned by harmful chemicals of weapons but also the stream water, which will directly have an effect on flora and fauna of this whole area. Meanwhile residents of Bandipora are up in arms against setting up firing range at Tragbal. A massive awareness campaign has been launched through social networking media against the proposal of firing range at Tragbal.
Locals of Sopore town accuse administration of failure and blamed the authorities for failing to fix the defunct street lights, even after repeated representations were made by the residents THE VARMUL POST’s correspondent FAIZAN WANI reports from Sopore
“Only 130 street lights are functional out of 436 street lights in whole town. Due to lack of funds, we are unable to restore the rest of defunct street lights. Whenever the funds will be released we will start working on them” Ghulam Rasool Shah Executive Officer Muncipal Council Sopore
“Earlier we had some financial problems but now funds have been released and all the defunct lights will be restored as soon as possible” Bashir Ahmad Bhat Sub-Divisional-Magistrate Sopore
Come evenings, Sopore town plunges into total darkness. Thanks to PDD and Municipal Council Sopore. Street lights in the North Kashmir’s Sopore town are lying defunct from last many years. There are hundreds of street lights which are spread in whole town but few among these are actually working. Neither the PDD nor the Municipality Council of Sopore is serious about the defunct street lights. However officials cite lack of funds for the delay in repairing the street lights. Local accuse administration of failure and said that the administration has failed to fix the street lights, even after repeated representations were made by the residents. Despite various representations to
Cover Picture By FAIZAN WANI
Shopkeepers allege that due to absence of street lights there is a certain increase in the number of theft cases in the Sopore town. During the last few months a number of theft cases were witnessed in Sopore town.
the officials, nothing happened on ground except hollow promises. People face a lot of problem in the evenings due to non functional street lights which has a direct impact on the earnings of street hawkers and commuters also. “We visited many times to MC Sopore and PDD department but except hollow promises and paper work they did nothing. Hundreds of street lights were installed few years back but only a few among these are working,” said Bashir Ahmad, a member of Traders Federation Sopore. In absence of street lights, the locals face acute problems during evenings. People of this town demand an inquiry to probe the early snags in these street lights after installation. While talking to Varmul Post Ishtiyaq Ahmad 37, a resident of Sopore said that after evenings it is very much tough for a grown up like me to roam outside and not to talk about small children. Dogs rule the roads during night hours and it is very difficult to visit market after evening. Not only the locals but commuters also face a lot of problems due to these defunct street lights and at times this becomes a reason for accidents. “Leave aside the fear of dogs, I must say 70% of accidents take place due to non availability of street lights in Sopore,” Ishtiyaq added. Ghulam Hassan, a Sumo driver claims that during the night hours it is very much difficult to drive the vehicle. The absence of street lights creates a lot of problems for us. There is every apprehension of accident in such conditions as you can’t concentrate on every passing by object in dark. Shopkeepers allege that due to absence of street lights there is a certain increase in the number of theft cases in the whole Sopore town. During the last few months a number of theft cases were witnessed in Sopore town. Meanwhile Gh Rasool Shah, Executive Officer Sopore says that 130 street lights are functional in Sopore town. “Only 130 street lights are functional among the 436 street lights in whole town but due to lack of funds, we are unable to restore the rest of defunct street lights. Whenever the funds will be released we will start working on them,” he added. However, SDM Sopore, Bashir Ahmad Bhat claims that funds have been released and restoration of street lights will be soon taken up. “The street lights in Sopore town have been installed by PDD in collaboration with Municipal council. People suffer a lot due to these defunct street lights. This is a serious issue and hopefully will be solved within days. Earlier we had some financial problems but now funds have been released and all the defunct lights will be restored as soon as possible,” said SDM Sopore.
One of the relatively unknown areas of Kashmir with vast tourism potential is the valley of Bangus. The valley which lies at an altitude of around 10,000 ft above sea level in the northern border of district Kupwara is spread over some 300 kilometres. Sajad Ahmad Lone visits this
unexplored beauty to tell us more.
The valley is 75 kilometres away from summer capital Srinagar. The valley is surrounded by Shamsbery ranges & Leepa valley. The valley contains variety of flora considered for cattle grazing. In the summer season numerous cattle & sheep are seen grazing in the valleys, which are sent from adjoining areas, the pasture lands of the area produce some of the finest grass in the state. The valley of Bangus has more than 100 meadows; the grass from meadows has tremendous nutritional & medicinal value. Besides this the valley also remains a source of various streams & springs which originate from here- Quaizi Nag is considered one among them. The source of various streams which flows through the adjoining areas including Qualamabad , Quaziabad , & other areas . Bangus valley tourism department of Kupwara is of the opinion that Bangus valley was neglected by government before 2010 as no attention was given to its beauty. However in 2013 the government has announced a package of 6.99 crore plan to develop the Bangus valley as a biosphere tour-
ist destination & also to maintain its ecological balance & natural beauty. According to Bangus valley authority that there would be no construction within the 300 sq kms of the Bangus valley, government has accorded top priority to the development of the Bangus valley so that it can become a new tourist destination. It has been seen that the rush of tourists towards Bangus is negligible as compared to other tourist places, because of many a reasons, transportation being one. The transport is not readily available as the roads are not in good condition. Bangus can be approached through three routes: Chowkibal to Drangwari , Handwara to Wadder & the shortest way is Nowgam to Reshwari. The need of the hour is to provide effective communication system to Bangus so that this valley can become an attractive point for people & more & more people will start their journey towards the beautiful meadows of Bangus.
Picture By RAJA NOUMAN
Asim Shah handwara
More innocent killings, same pattern, same design and same huge fake promises of judicial inquiry. It has all the markings of getting nastier; Hey wait it has already become nastier, this time the sharp pointed sticks of security forces has made the newsmen its targets. If a police man on duty is hit by someone then it is called as crime but when police man throws his sticks unlimited times on a newsman who is carrying out his professional duty is not a crime but a part of tactics to deal with a law and order situation. What a hypocritical world we are living in? I still get scared when that moment comes in front of my eyes. I try to forget it but it chases me through the imaginary fields of mud like the police man in Langate area did after beating some of the journalists ruthlessly. Unfortunately, I was one of them and that too more injured one. After covering the funeral procession of Nayeem in Handwara who was killed in government forces firing we thought of going to another place not far from Handwara. On reaching there we saw a huge smoke coming out from forests while we stepped forward, we were stopped by the
fire service employs sitting in their vehicle, they informed us; no they warned us of the serious consequences as they were already aware of the worst situation which we were about to enter in, but we didn’t listened to them. I wish we would have stopped there when they warned us. While reaching on the spot, what we saw was very frightening, stones in air and the police man chasing the youth. Langate was angry over the killing of Raja Begum. We tried to get near the police side so that we will be not be the target of any teargas shell but it was too late as the police in hundreds in a unanimous manner attacked the stonepelters. While we found ourselves in a very awkward position, we took refuge in a nearby house. It was an encounter type situation, where a small group of journalist who took refuge in one of the houseman were treated like militants. They first cordoned the house and when we came out shouting out from our lungs that Hum Press say hay (that we are from press, we are from media) but they didn’t listened to us. They banged the main gate of that house and attacked us like anything, when they didn’t stopped hitting us from those sticks we somehow managed to escape. The blood was oozing from our injured hands and after beating us so ruthlessly they didn’t stopped there, they chased through the fields. After that horrendous incident, I only remember one thing when the needle of antibiotic injection pierced my bums and I woke up from the unconscious sleep, thanks to the sticks of the brutal police officers. Thanks for maintaining law and order!
Asim Shah Sopore
Arguably the most famous landmark of Sopore, New Light Hotel and bakery has a long and chequered history that almost mirrors the history of the town, renowned for its entrepreneur spirit and resilience. Established in 1948 by Haji Ghulam Rasool Lone, a noted businessman of Sopore, the hotel has witnessed three major mishaps – including a major encounter incident in which two top foreign Fidayeens were killed– but continues to be a major name in hospitality in North Kashmir till date. In an exclusive chat with Varmul Post, the current proprietor of the hotel, Muhammad Shaban Lone, an adventure freak and a second generation hotelier, recounted the history of the legendary hotel and how it has undergone a huge transformation over the years – shaping up as district Baramulla’s foremost bakery and restaurant. The current bakery is situated in the same spot where the original hotel once stood, while as the restaurant and café, a big hit with locals and travelers alike, is located just on the periphery of the town, in a picturesque backdrop of orchards. When established in 1948 as a restaurant, the vicinity of the hotel was not a very reputable area. The area had a shady reputation as the Red Light zone of Sopore (a no-go area) where all the immoral activities were going on. It was Lone senior and other notable people in the town who found a community which came up with the idea of establishing the school and mosque in the area. This proved to be a great step towards reforming the society. After the restaurant came up, the hotel established over the years and became one of the top properties in North Kashmir that would offer rooms to travelers. Twice over the hotel suffered fire, reducing it to ashes but Mohammad Shaban Lone the orchardist cum hotelier restarted the venture every time. The hotel witnessed one of the bloodiest massacres in Kashmir history, reported as a “Blood Tide Rising” in Time Magazine. The Sopore Massacre of
1993 that left 57 unarmed civilians dead and scores injured including women and children, the property worth crores was guttedby the 94th Battalion of the Border Security Force on that fateful day. The Sopore people cannot forget that horrendous incident and refer it as a doomsday in Sopore history. People in Sopore observe this day as a Black Day every year, which also saw Ghulam Nabi Bhat, the son in law of senior Lone, also being shot dead just outside the hotel. He was in process of carrying dead bodies when he was hit with a volley of bullets. New Light Hotel didn’t let the tragedies overcome its reputation. It has always remained the main symbol of Sopore business sector. After it was gutted in a major fire incident in 2001, the hotel was rebuilt as a grand hotel with four-storey building. Just when business was back and things seemed to look up for the hotel, a firefight between security agencies and two ‘Fidayeen’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (10thNovember, 2007), holed up in the hotel and led to its destruction. It was the same mindset that motivated Lone junior to restart New Light Restaurant and café at the periphery of the town and the bakery shop at the same place where the grand hotel once stood. Sadly Sopore has now lost its biggest hotel because of the volatile situation prevailing in the town, but the building has been reconstructed again as the New Light Shopping complex and bakers. According to Mohammed Shaban Lone it was his father who brought the concept of bakery in Sopore. Till date New light bakery continues to lead the bakery business in Sopore town. The restaurant and café named as “Renaissance” which is located on the periphery of the town, is a big hit among locals and travelers alike.The Restaurant has become the relaxing point where people enjoy various fast foods and coffee. However keeping in mind the circumstances, most restaurants don’t retain night rush in small towns — a setback to the hospitality sector. “I would have moved my business to other place from Sopore like others did, to earn more profit but I have inherited this business from my father, who has loved this town (Sopore) and has done so many good things for this town people. My father’s love for people of Sopore is running in my veins and I am going to continue my efforts to make this place as same as it was before when people use to come here in abundance just to enjoy our hospitality,” Mohammad Shaban Lone concludes wistfully.
from NIT to handwara
The state is simply not capable enough to give justice to Kashmiris and tries to assert its control over Kashmir by killing people.
BASHARAT ALI On April 6 when Jammu and Kashmir Police lathi-charged non-Kashmiri students inside the NIT campus in Srinagar, the public felt outraged at the magnitude of brutality done on “patriotic” students. They demanded stern action against the erring cops. “How can they be so brutal?” people asked. This public outcry reached to such an extent that many police officers took to social media expressing their sorrow and surprise as to how could people challenge their patriotism and nationalism. In the many news debates which followed the incident, this question was asked umpteen times. The answers, always vague and elusive, kept complicating the issue. There were subtle attempts to brandish the J&K police as pro-Pakistan, something the Indian media, until very recently, tried to pass off PDP as. The actual reason and this can be empirically verified as well, lies in the training which J&K police go through in riot-control. They are both physically and mentally trained to lathicharge and shoot at, with impunity, any assembly of people; be it students at Kashmir University, traders or teachers at Lal Chowk, mourners carrying dead bodies, or “patriotic” students inside NIT. Over the years, they have internalised this routine. They rehearse it each day. Since they have only Kashmiris to confront, which they have been told can be tamed by force only; such “brutal” force has become their natural response to any sloganeering mob. When the situation in NIT erupted, involving non-Kashmiri students, they could not alter their systems as demanded by the situation. They went in and delivered to the best of their training. Here, presumably, someone at the top of police hierarchy displayed foresight and sent in forces with lathis only and not guns. In case guns were carried in by police, we would have had an entirely different situation before us. Maybe by now J&K police would have been permanently disbanded. (Too optimistic!) The better demonstration of their skill and training was exhibited in Handwara six days later. Protests erupted in Handwara after Indian Army personnel allegedly followed a teenage student inside a public toilet. Within no time, two boys were shot dead. The armed forces had fired with precision, hitting one, Mo-
Printer, Publisher & Editor : MUNEEB UL HAQ
hammad Iqbal Peer, in his head and another, Nayeem Ahmad Bhat, in his abdomen. A stray bullet, perhaps wandering in search of some life, hit a woman, Raja Begum, working in her fields. That is some skill, some training. Next day, in protests following the two deaths, a teargas shell, again shot at a well-measured trajectory, hit a youngster, Jehangir Ahmad Wani, on his head and killed him too. The face of the outrage over the NIT lathi-charge was majorly a section of Kashmiri Pandits. A Sushil Pandit or a Rashneek Kher in newsrooms and also an Anupam Kher, an Ashoke Pandit trying to reach to campus to show some solidarity. “The entire NIT has been turned into some kind of jail,” Sushil Pandit said on Times Now. He is alright with police killing people outside the NIT campus but objects to their presence inside it where the majority of students are non-Kashmiris. Their liberal class wants Kashmiri students shouting freedom slogans in Delhi booked under sedition. But they feel a moral urgency to issue a solidarity statement for the same “anti-nationals” when J&K police beats up “nationalists” in Srinagar. One cannot even call them hypocrites. The Kashmiri outrage over the cold-blooded murders, on the other hand, cannot afford a face. This outrage is conveyed in slogans, parceled in stones and is directed at the Indian state. For the consumption of the public, the mainstream media — part of the state’s paraphernalia — fine-tune this outrage into a law and order problem which, for them, erupted due to an “alleged” molestation charge. The police supply a video of the victim, staying true to their definition of what is legal, and shift the entire focus from killings to the “false” charges of molestation. Many people have given vent to their outrage on social media. They pointed out at the double standards of media while reporting on Kashmir. This question was succinctly addressed by a Facebook user, Nayeem Mohammad, who wrote: “Having any expectations from Indian media to get ‘outraged’ over the murder of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian military apparatus is as foolish as expecting ‘justice’ from the Indian state. Indian media is Indian state.” The state is simply not capable enough to give justice to Kashmiris and tries to assert its control over Kashmir by killing people.
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Handwara Killings How Propaganda Pukes Out in Kashmir Inam ul Rehman On April 12, two youth were murdered by the Indian armed forces in Handwor town of district Kupwor. Immediately, as is norm in Kashmir, a blame-game started between the Indian army and the local police. Both blamed each other for the killing of four protesters, despite the Indian army “regretting” the loss of lives in firing. A plethora of information was circulated with bits of fact to confuse the masses. On the first day the largest circulating newspaper of Kashmir, Greater Kashmir, reported that the army shot down two protesters. Next day the same newspaper under the same byline reported that a particular police official killed Nayeem (The budding cricket who was to leave Kashmir for higher studies in days)! (http://epaper.greaterkashmir.com/Details. aspx?id=12675&boxid=121920459). The same newspaper tried to make the killing of Raja Begum and Jehangir mysterious. (http:// epaper.greaterkashmir.com/Details.aspx?id=12675&boxid=12231315). It doesn’t matter whether it was the Indian army or the police. Both are important organs of an occupying power, and none of them can function without one helping the other. After the initial blame-game tactics, a video of the 15-year old girl was released. The “girl” was in the centre of storm as her molestation bid led to the killing of four people including a woman. One cannot independently verify whether the girl in the video is the same on which protests erupted or her friend who accompanied her. The video, in which the girl gives clean chit to the Indian army, was purportedly released for two reasons. One was for the public consumption of the Valley: meant to create confusion and dissipate the masses; and second was for the elites back home in India to defend the army in their media. It is an important counter insurgency strategy of the Indian army. First they kill, then apologise, after some time start character assassination of the victim and simultaneously defend themselves through media. Their problem is not that they have been caught in the Valley, but back home their image should not get shattered. Their own people should not distrust and ask uncomfortable questions. In this the media ably aids them. The military industrial complex of
which corporates are hugely benefactors and media sprouts out of these corporates helps them to stop beaming images and voices of the oppressed people. Then, through the media they start propaganda, but propaganda, as we know, after some time pukes up. Take the case of the “confessional video”. Let us keep the legal things aside because in Kashmir it’s the word of the Indian army which is legal, rest is bunkum. The girl according to the police is in their custody from the moment protests started. In custody videos and cameras are not allowed with any person except the army and the police officials. The voices in the background encourage her to speak up. So she speaks up. Let us presume she is speaking truth not a raconteuse. Let us assume that no Indian army man was involved in the molestation. Let us believe that she had an affair with the Indian army man. Let us also for a moment accept that molestation was cooked up by the two boys who she is allaying in the video. Let us believe that the two persons who slapped her knew she had an affair with the army man. But, what does then the protest against the Indian army signify? It means that the people of Kashmir see it as an occupational force. That the youth of Kashmir in particular are looking for ways to destroy the military apparatus. That for the youth of Kashmir ugly occupation requires uglier ways to resist and destroy the edifice. Kupwor is a district where the Indian army is diligently working for the past 26 years to make it a model district that has no connection with the Aazadi movement. Kupwor is a social lab for the Indian army. This is the place where most people are trafficked to the rallies of pro-India politicians, or Indian ministers including their prime minister. It is probably the only place in Kashmir where the Indian flag was fluttering at a public place. Kupwor beats every voting percentage record. Yet it does not adumbrate that the people given a chance will torch every Indian symbol, like they did with the tricolour (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=wdTKPapiHhs). Despite the presence of army picket and the area being under the CCTV surveillance. Why did Nayeem Qadir Bhat, a youth in his early twenties protested in the same way as the rest of the people if everything related to the girl and the Indian army man was concocted? Nayeem had represented Kashmir in
under-19 cricket, and was a popular figure in the frontier district. Nayeem was referred as Virat Kohli, a rarity in Kashmir. Kupwor is the only place in Kashmir where a cricketer– if he has got loads of talent– is compared with an Indian cricketer. Otherwise in Kashmir when you want to ridicule a player you dub him as someone from Indian cricket team. Giving him alias after an Indian player again goes to show the kind of environment the Indian army has created there. He was for all seriousness looking forward to play for the Indian cricket team. And representing your state in under-19 is a ladder where from many kids of different Indian states have played for the Indian cricket team. Why would a cricketer like Nayeem, who was going for a coaching stint to India, risk his life? And why did the Indian army kill him? Surely the army must be knowing him, after all in Kupwor, which is a highly garrisoned place, Nayeem must have been in army’s Sadabhavan– the Indian military counter insurgency tactics meant to “win the hearts and minds of the people” through soft power– scheme things. Yet he was shot dead by the Indian army? Why? How about Iqbal Farooq Pir who was working in a shop located near the bunker? Why did the Indian army target him? Why isn’t the local media given access to the family of the girl? Why is she still under the custody of the police? Five years ago, a woman in Manzgam was abducted and raped for two days by the Indian army. The police then did the same thing as it is doing in Handwor incident. Police blocked all routes to her house for weeks, kept the woman under custody and later declared her mentally unstable. The Indian military apparatus wants to take away the focus of killing toward a vestigial video confession. Even if what the girl says is true, it only reinforces the amount of hatred Kashmir people have toward an occupational forces. The protest that happened in Kupwor are manifestation that no matter what the Indian army does, the land which has been tilted with the blood of Kashmir people will never let occupiers to remain sane. (This piece first appeared in Kashmir Dispatch, The Varmul Post is reproducing it with due permission by author) (Inam ul Rehman is a journalist based in Kashmir)