Jammu & Kashmir - Articles

While elsewhere in the country people were eager to celebrate Independence Day, the same brings miseries and sufferings to Kashmiris. In the run-up to this occasion, life was badly hit in this turbulent Valley and the people were desperate to see the day through. Given the extraordinary importance associated with it, the ‘day’ is considered as a challenge by the security forces and the militants operating in the Valley, hell-bent on upstaging each other. In this battle, the people bore the brunt. Though there were as many as eight days till the Independence Day, people were feeling the heat. From a remote village to a town, the story remained the same.

The militants in the Valley are on their toes trying to disrupt the celebrations and demonstrate to the world that they are against it. On the other hand, it has always been a challenge for the State government to conduct smoothly the Independence Day functions and demonstrate to the international community that Kashmiris are a part of it. The government has made adequate security arrangements to ensure a smooth Independence Day. However, people in the Valley have always mourned the day India got independence for people here observe it as a black day.

Hands inside pockets in a beefed-up security area could lead one to all sorts of trouble. Life in the Valley, especially in the capital where Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was to hoist the flag in Bakshi Stadium was quiet troublesome. Frisking was frequent and one had to go through at least five security checks to travel a distance of just four kilometers from Lal Chowk to Dalgate. As soon as the sun sets, the situation became even more upsetting. The common man had to answer a barrage of questions before he would be freed by a patrol party and in case one had grown a beard or wore kammez salwar, one was suspect. People preferred to stay indoor as Independence Day neared. The business establishments in the city especially in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas closed well before sunset.

In rural areas where the majority of population live and where the media presence is very poor, life turned hellish. In the border towns of Kupwara and Handwara people were forced to hoist the tricolor. A bus driver, or even a tongawala, on being noticed without the tricolor faced the wrath of the security forces. Villages adjoining Kupwara town were intensely patrolled and every evening the village president asked to arrange a person who accompanied the patrolling party in the morning. This process went on in rotation among the village people

Independence Day had a bearing on every aspect of life. The attendance in schools declined as Independence Day approached. The intensity of fear can be imagined by the fact that parents advised their children to stay at home and not to risk their lives "I didn’t go to school today on the advice of my parents. In school, teachers too tell us to leave before the regular time" said Mohammad Aslam, a 11^th class student enrolled in S.P Hr. Secondary School, Srinagar. There were educational institutions that preferred the closure of institutions for at least three or four days to avoid any inconvenience. Even in Kashmir University studies remained affected for at least a week in the run-up to the occasion "Our law department has decided to have no working day till Independence Day. Hartals have already played havoc with our studies. Examinations are nearing, it is a frustrating situation" said Khursheed Ahmed, who is in his third semester. The situation in other departments was more or less same.

Bus drivers and others ferrying passengers across the Valley also did not find many passengers due to the Independence Day phobia among the people. While boarding a Sumo at the taxi stand at Kupwara, it was observed that it took more than an hour for the driver to gather just six passengers before leaving for Srinagar. The scene at the stand was dismal with many vehicles waiting for passengers. The stand was occupied by at least fifty security and police personnel on all four sides. "It is for the third time in the last three days that I have failed to fill the vehicle up to its capacity despite waiting for long" said a disappointed, Sajad Ahmed, a Sumo driver. The passengers had to undergo four security checks before they reached Srinagar.

The view in Lad-ded (the lone maternity hospital) near the Bakshi Stadium where the Independence Day proceedings were to be held was quiet disturbing. The security forces surrounded the hospital from both entrances for the last four days leading to August 15 and nobody was allowed to move outside after 7.30pm. Similar was the situation in the adjacent children’s hospital. "No body can make even a telephone call after time specified by the security forces" said an attendant at the hospital wishing anonymity.

Public movement was constrained to such an extent that people were unable to move to public parks to get away with the day’s boredom. The public parks that witnessed a good rush on an average day wore a deserted look. The newly developed Iqbal Park close to the Bakshi Stadium was sealed off and nobody allowed inside. The park was guarded from all four sides by security forces. A pedestrian who happened to walk in front of the park faced the consequences. Neither was any vehicle allowed to pass through the road in front of the park.

This worrisome situation does not arise only on Independence Day in this turbulent Valley but the people here have had to go through difficult times on other important occasions as well, such as Republic Day.