Rameez Makhdoomi
The age in which we live can only be characterized as one of barbarism. Our civilization is in the process not only of being militarized, but also being brutalized———Alva Myrdal
Parakhna mat parakhne se koie apna nahi rehta,ki zaida der tak tasveer ka aina nahi rehta,bade logo se milne milane mai hamesha fasla rakhna,ki jahan dirya sumander se mil jaye dirya nahi rehta-—these wonderful lines are written on the Facebook Profile of Tahir Sofi, the latest victim of brutality of security forces aggression in North Kashmir’s Baramulla District.
Since the hanging of Afzal Guru, the vicious death cycle of Kashmiri youth in police and army firing has once again started reminding one of the tragic killing cycle of 2010 unrest. Just after hanging, in Watergam village near the hometown of Guru, a 12-year-old boy, Obaid Mushtaq, died of injuries after police and paramilitary troops fired tear gas shells and bullets a day earlier to disperse an angry crowd.
On February 10, two youth belonging to Ganderbal drowned in river Jhelum while being chased by security forces during clashes, the deceased youth were 24-year-old Tariq Ahmad Bhat and 14-year-old Zameer Ahmad Dar.
Just few days back, a Kashmir Student namely Mudasir Kamran from Pulwama, who was pursuing P.HD in English Literature from Foreign Language University in Hyderabad, was found dead in his room. The tragic event resulted in protests throughout Kashmir.
During recent Parigam Chalo Call, the situation took an ugly turn and another unfortunate death took place in Baramulla in alleged Army firing. Tahir Rasool was shot in head.
Pertinently, a group of youth gathered near Kakar Hamam bridge in the afternoon, who were protesting against the ransacking of scores of houses and damage caused to several vehicles earlier in the morning by the troopers, were fired at by security personnel of 46 RR stationed near Khanpora bridge resulting in the instant death of Tahir Rasool Sofi and causing injuries to Ajaz Ahmad Khan.
Even poisonous Pepper Gas is killing people in Kashmir. Hajira w/o Ghulam Hassan of Safa Kadal was suffering from some chest ailment and died due to adverse affects on her heath from excessive use of pepper gas by forces in locality, stated the locals of the area. Pertinently, whole downtown area and number of areas have been subjected to brute pepper gas in Kashmir.
The harmful and adverse effects of pepper gas are known to one and all. As a matter of fact, the European Parliament Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA) published in 1998 “An Appraisal of Technologies of Political Control” with extensive information on pepper spray and tear gas. They write:
“The effects of pepper spray are far more severe, including temporary blindness which lasts from 15–30 minutes, a burning sensation of the skin which lasts from 45 to 60 minutes, upper body spasms which force a person to bend forward and uncontrollable coughing making it difficult to breathe or speak for between 3 to 15 minutes.
For those with asthma, taking other drugs, or subject to restraining techniques that restrict the breathing passages, there is a risk of death.” Besides killings, scores of protesters and security forces men are injured in latest cycle of protests.
Eminent and globally acclaimed Human Rights activist of Kashmir and coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) , Khurram Parvez, while speaking exclusively with ‘The Kashmir Scenario’ on the issue stated-
“The main impact of the current humanitarian scenario is that people of Kashmir even the common masses have understood that seeking justice from Indian state and system is a futile exercise. Values and right do not exist for people of kashmir and our civil ,political rights are treated in shabbiest manner by the Indian setup .The state deems it necessary to punish all the people by imposing curfew thus itself agreeing the pro-freedom sentiment of masses and forces have been given free hand in vandalizing properties and unleashing reign of terror. Much before protest anticipation the whole populace was caged, leaders were arrested and even poisonous and lethal weapons like pepper guns are now used. There are two laws operating in Kashmir -one law of lawlessness and another set of draconian laws. Kashmiris people are been given a clear message that democracy does not exist for them by the conduct of Indian state in Kashmir.”
Khurram adds- “The tears of Omer Abdullah in Assembly will have an impact on people of Kashmir but not in a manner desired by Chief Minister. The CM wants to garner public sympathy, but the people have understood the helplessness of Chief Minister .People have also realized that if the elected representatives cannot negotiate in bringing body of Afzal Guru back how can they talk on bigger issues like Kashmir issue. Situation has clearly proved that CM of Kashmir is not treated even clerk by the centre but a mere daily wager. The biggest impact of the situation is that India over the past few years had tried to create credibility of few institutions in Kashmir and now all that effort has been watered. People have come to know that within this system nothing positive can be hoped and powerlessness of the elected representatives has become crystal clear before them.”
Other eminent voices are also expressing same anguish. Shahzad Hussain Hamdani, a Lawyer, writer and a known Human right Activist from Kashmir said, “Kashmir for India is nothing more than a laboratory. Since 90’s every such incident of Human rights issue has been farmed in the Indian policy. It is the policy of India to make sure that Kashmir should not remain peaceful and to project that it is the people of Kashmir who bring the unrest. Let me tell you, the killing of Kashmir student in Hyderabad is one such example. I am really shocked to come across to the statement of Hyderabad police officials who said that the Kashmiri boy used to physically and mentally harass his roommate. I think the police have lost their senses. Then in that case, it should have been the room mate who should have committed suicide for so called torture or humiliation. Time has come for India to stop experimentation.
He further said, “Few days back I came across to a video, I don’t know about its authenticity, but it was being circulated on social media. The video shows a J&K policeman taking on a Kashmiri youth on his back, then another policeman lowers this youth’s pant and then they beat him mercilessly with baton and the person is screaming with Pain leaving behind a mark of physical and mental torture. Now if this video is authentic, it is a grave issue of human rights violation and this shows that India is becoming another Israel.”
Mushtaq Ul-Haq Ahmad Sikander, an eminent activist while talking to ‘The Kashmir Scenario’ on this issue made these observations- “Kashmir is burning again in the aftermath of Afzal Guru’s hanging and the State is least concerned to allow people to give a vent to their anger and bruised sentiments. Instead it is trying to put down these protests with an iron fist and these tactics are resulting in more killings, driving the resentment and anger to new heights that will explode in the coming days.
The State and government doesn’t want to learn from its past mistakes that brute use of force and impunity to the alleged perpetrators of human rights violations that include the men in uniform doesn’t help in making Kashmiris submissive by assassinating their genuine political aspirations. But in contrast it drives the youth to the wall where torture, killings, chocking their voices and political suffocation will drive them to wall, and they may opt for armed insurgency again. It is what the vested interests both among State and Non State actors want as it will keep the pot of conflict boiling and need of draconian laws will remain there. The State government must try to understand the aspirations and sentiments of youth and the present stance can land the State into a vicious circle of violence.”
On ground, the Killings of innocent civilian and peaceful protesters have become order of the day. No day is different as bloodshed is visible quiet clearly in every nook and corner of Kashmir as if men in uniform have license to kill Kashmiri. Voices of humanity in India and throughout the world point out that Indian state’s moratorium on brutalities in Kashmir amounts the Roman notion of peace, eloquently described by the Roman poet Virgil: “You, O Roman, remember to rule the nations with might. This will be your genius to impose the way of peace, to spare the conquered and crush the proud.”
At present the India’s state policy in Kashmir seems to be- “Heads I win and Tails you lose”.