Srinagar: The killing cycle in most ugliest form is back in the Kashmir valley. The autumn season of Kashmir, which is otherwise known for its unique beauty and leaf fall, portends turbulence following spate of killings within a week.
The situation was never normal in Kashmir in the last three decades, but now suddenly many fear that the things are worryingly sliding back to the bloody ’90s and the upcoming winter could be harshest not just in terms of the chill but in terms of violence too.
On the beautiful Autumn evening of Tuesday, October 5, 2021 a famous and well respected chemist of Kashmir ML Bindroo was shot dead. His shop at Iqbal Park, the commercial hub of Srinagar is the most prominent medicine shop of Kashmir. He was known for his philanthropy and services to community as well his services to the society are well documented. He as a well known Kashmiri Pandit did not leave Kashmir even at height of militancy. Less than an hour of his killing, Virendra Paswan, a street vendor from Bhagalpur, Bihar selling Gol-Gappa was shot dead in the downtown Lalbazar Area of Srinagar. After a lull of 36 hours, the horror never before seen wrote a terrible story as on Thursday October 7, in the interior area of Srinagar Sangam Eidgah two teachers were killed in broad daylight, both from minority community of Sikh and Kashmiri Pandits. The teachers identified as Satinder Kour and Deepak Chand. This episode sent ripples of horror across Kashmir. The next day – Friday, thousands of Sikhs in Kashmir marched at the funeral of Kour along with a member of the region’s Hindu community.”
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It is reported that many from minority community are deciding to flee the valley in order to save their lives. Amid a spate of these targeted attacks, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has vowed to avenge the killings of civilians and to “completely demolish” the terror ecosystem. Thereafter, on October 7 evening, a civilian was gunned down by a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel at a checkpoint in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, who apparently did not stop his vehicle when asked.
The militant outfit Resistance Front (TRF) which came into limelight after abrogation of article 370, has claimed these killings of minority community and vowed to carry many more attacks through its statements.
In the 32 year long Militant history of Kashmir, TRF is a recent entrant in the spectrum of J&K’s militancy. The security forces believe it was floated after the Centre’s move to abrogate of Article 370 in late 2019. TRF was likely founded by Abbas Sheikh from South Kashmir district of Kulgam was one of the oldest militants in the Valley, who joined their ranks in 1996 in the most leading Militant organization of Kashmir Hizbul Mujahideen and broke away from it in year 2019 to form TRF. He was the chief of The Resistance Front (TRF) since beginning . Sheikh had kept the security forces on his toes due to his ability to maintain a low profile and motivated young men to join militancy. He was killed last month in Srinagar in an encounter with police.
With TRF taking center Stage and having much strength in Urban Srinagar, the most well known militant organisation like Hizbul Mujahideen operating since thirty years has been overshadowed. Many in security establishment call TRF a shadow group of well known Lashkar e Toiba.
The on ground analysis by local observers here is that security prism of the Kashmir conflict has been more dominant after abrogation of article 370 but the political side of conflict is being ignored which is leading to deadlier militancy and more recruitment.
Security is on unprecedented alert especially in Summer capital Srinagar . On Friday October 8, 2021, a militant affiliated with LeT was killed in a chance encounter in upper town Natipora area of Srinagar.
Opposition parties like National Conference and People’s Democratic Party state that abrogation of article 370 and harsh measures taken have generated strong undercurrents that could make situation worse. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who visited the family of the slained school principal Kour, held the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government’s “wrong measures” responsible for the “worsening” situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is high time that measures are taken to stop the uncalled for bloodbath in the valley. This will require a firm political resolve and measures to instill confidence in the minds of the common gentry.
– global bihari bureau
