Like a Goblin-infested hamlet, conflict-ridden Kashmir has ‘living-dead’ who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time
HAZIQ QADRI
Srinagar, October 10: From the early nineties when the insurgency was at its peak and the gun was ruling the roost all over the valley to the year 2010, when the streets were reverberating with slogans and the freedom struggle had come to the streets, everything seems changed. But what did not change is life of the ones who did bear the brunt of the conflict without having any involvement with what happened. It was just that they were present at the wrong place at the wrong time and that is what they are paying for now.
The heavenly gestures!
Through his physical gestures, Yawar Ibharam Bhat, greets visitors with a smile and tries to narrate that fateful incident which made him physically paralyzed forever.
Living in the modest two-storey house in Maisuma, Yawar on that doomed day in 2009 went outside his home to buy butter from a neighbouring shop when the whole Valley was protesting against the Shopian double-rape and murder incident. From nowhere a tear gas canister directly hit Yawar on his head. The event changed his life forever.
Spending time in a dimly-lit room of his modest house in Maisuma and watching highlights of previous cricket World Cup is the primary part of the daily chores for Yawar now-a-days. He makes arduous efforts to stand on his feet without any help but every time he fails in his efforts and then takes help from his mother and sister.
“Whenever anyone comes to meet Yawar, he tries to express his emotions through his gestures. He wants them to understand what he (Yawar) is telling. But many times people fail to understand his gestures,” Says Gulshan Begum, Yawar’s mother.
Gulshan Says, on that day she pleaded him not to go outside as protests were going on and anti-India slogans were reverberating from the whole area. But he ignored my request and went out.
“Yawar told me that he will be back in five minutes and went out to buy butter from the neighbouring shop. It was strike on that day against the Shopian double rape and murder incident. People were protesting outside and suddenly police fired volley of canisters and one of them suddenly hit Yawar’s head. Those five abominable minutes ruined the life of my son and now the whole family is suffering because of those five minutes, “says Gulshan while tears brim out through her eyes.
Later, Yawar was rushed to SKIMS hospital by the locals where he remained in the hospital for more than one month. The news which came out after the month’s treatment was a big blow for the Bhat family. Doctors confirmed that Yawar’s right portion of the body will remain paralyzed for a lifetime.
“All family members of our family were petrified as the doctors said that Yawar had lost the ability to speak as the shell that directly hit his head had damaged some parts of the brain,” says Gulshan Jan.
His father is in deep shock and hardly believes that his son has become dependent on others.
“I sold everything even my shop so that I can get enough money for his treatment. Doctors have advised us to take him outside for further treatment. My wife is also suffering from heart ailment and I am earning only 3000 rupees a month. How can I treat my son?” questions Yawar’s father, Muhammad Ibrahim Bhat, a mechanic by profession.
Yawar’s elder sister Nisa decided to give up her studies after this incident so that she can look after his brother who cannot walk a step without her support.
“He was not throwing stones on paramilitary troopers, then why he was targeted?” questioned Nisa.
For whole day, Nisa remains with her brother and helps him in moving from one place to another. She sits with him and understands his gestures easily. “Every time we sit together, Yawar conveys with his gestures that he is dependent on others and family is suffering because of him,” Says Nisa, while tears roll down her face.
Yawar was the only son of his parents besides having two sisters in the family.
“I sold gold items just for his treatment,” Begum added. Begum said she too is a cardiac patient and needs money for her own medicines.
The only source of income is Yawar’s father who works from dawn to dusk to earn money for the treatment of his son. Bhat rues the fact that he has to work in the shops of those people whom he taught the basic know-how of the trade.
“I work as a mechanic on a pavement at Batamaloo. Sometime I work on workshops whose owners got the elementary know-how from my shop,” laments Bhat.
There seems to be no end to the problems of Bhat family as Yawar is losing his mental balance and eye sight by each passing day. “He is now suffering from many aliments and there is now a fear of depression as well,” Gulshan says.
The family is facing many financial problems and at this crucial time nobody offers them a helping hand.
“In 2009, Jammu And Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) provided some monetary help and from that day they never visited our place. Separatist leader Yasin Malik visited hospital at that time when my son was in coma and from that day he never paid a visit again. He was our neighbour but despite that he never bothered to see my son,” Says Gulshan.
Gulshan Begum says she is disappointed but her faith in God is still strong.
“I will beg for the treatment of my son. I wish he calls me “Mumma” once again and that will be the happiest moment of my life,” Cries Gulshan Begum.
Hand-picked for tortures!
On a misty winter morning, Nazir Ahmed Sheikh, then a 26-year-old young man was found in an unconscious state by a Taxi-driver in the 1990’s. He was thrown on road by the Security forces in an unconscious state after recurring long-term tortures. The Taxi-driver shifted him to the police control room and later he was admitted in a hospital.
When insurgency was at its peak in Kashmir, Sheikh was picked by security forces from Mawar-Handwara road and was continuously tortured for fifteen days.
“I was tortured several times, first by local army and then shifted to Langate. Later I was lifted to army headquarters Baramulla,”Said Nazir.
After continuous tortures Nazir was taken to Badami Bagh Army cantonment for treatment, but when there was very less hope for his survival they tossed Sheikh on a road leaving him on his own. It was then that a taxi-driver passed by who rescued Sheikh.
“They (Army) used to run roller over my legs. They shifted me from one army camp to another and used every possible method of torture on me. Whenever I recall those days, it brings a shiver down my spine when I try to recount my memories of a haunted past it gives me lot of pain,” Sheikh says in a choking voice.
According to Sheikh he was arrested for having links with militant outfits.
“Neither was I a militant nor did I possess a gun, still I was arrested and tortured. Army used every technique to crush me, but failed to break my determination to live on,” Sheikh added.
After this incident the life of sheikh and his family got shattered. He lost both his legs and is now dependent on his family members. Walking with prosthetic limbs and taking support of crutches, Sheikh sold his every little thing; from a pen to his favourite carpet for his treatment but he could not stand on his legs with the result that he remained physically handicapped for a lifetime.
“I lost both my legs and from that day I am dependent forever on others. Army burnt fingers of my left hand. I cannot even hold a glass of water in my hand,” Sheikh says.
Sheikh’s father died when he was just 13 years and whole responsibility of his family, including his three brothers and two sisters, was on his shoulders. He never lost hope and to make his both ends meet he started working as a mason.
“I was the only earning hand in my family and I tried to fulfil all the requirements of my family. Many hopes were associated with me but this incident wiped out all my hopes,” Said Sheikh in a very gloomy tone with words hardly leaving his mouth.
After this incident, Sheikh’s wife deserted him leaving behind a nine month old son, still he continued his struggle.
“I faced many complications but always tried to provide my son all the basic facilities. I tried my best to provide him whatever he needed to get recognized and respected in the society,” said Sheikh.
Sheikh who now lives with his sister fulfils daily requirements from the money he gets from the Social Welfare Department. “They give me 400 rupees per month and I try to complete the requirements of my son with that money. But at present time it is becoming increasingly impossible to fulfil the needs of my son with a meagre 400 stipend,” adds Sheikh.
Sheikh’s son, Javeed is proud of his father’s Struggle and wants to accomplish all the dreams that his father had had.
“My mother left me when I was a child, but my father gave me love of a mother too. I am proud of my father,” Says Javeed
A hope to see again!
On the fateful day of September 18, 2010 Amir Kabir of Baramulla, stepped out of his home with his mother to accompany her to a local hospital but later on his boyish enthusiasm egged him on to join his pals who were fighting pitched battles with CRPF at the cement Bridge Baramulla –also known as “The Bridge of the battle”.
suddenly ,a CRPF personnel, deceitfully hiding behind a vehicle, fired three pellets in the direction of the young stone throwers and in no time one of the pellet directly hit Kabir’s eyes. The very next moment, world was all ‘darkness’ for Kabir. The volley of pellets had had hit his eyes and he was blinded for a lifetime.
“He tried to see as to what was going on when all of a sudden a pellet directly hit his eye. There he screamed ‘something has hit me’ and then he was not able to see anything,” said Kabir’s friend, Zubair.
Kabir’s father had sold all his land in an effort to get money for his son’s treatment, but it did not work out. His family says that even the separatist leaders turned their backs on them in times of need.
“I was expecting help from leaders but they cheated me. I called JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik and told him about my situation but he said I was trying to generate money out of this. I lost my eyes only for the freedom of Kashmir not for the money,” said Kabir.
The doctors diagnosed him with a bilateral injury with open globe damage in left eye and vitreous Haemorrhage in right eye. He was later referred for specialized treatment to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, but so far every attempt to restore his vision has failed. Kabir said, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had promised that government would bear the medical expenses, but so far nothing has been paid. Kabir’s family now faces a real challenge as it is difficult to bear his medical expenses. They have to carry him to the reputed hospitals of Delhi. The family does not own a house. They have hired only three rooms. Kabir’s father, Abdul Kabir Beigh, is a street vendor who sells clothes in a nearby market.
“We migrated from Sultanpora Kandi to Baramulla in early 90’s so that I can provide a better education for my two sons. I worked very hard but this incident shattered all my dreams,” said Beigh.
“I called JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik and told him about my situation but he said I was trying to generate money out of this. I lost my eyes only for the freedom of Kashmir not for the money,” said Kabir.