Jammu & Kashmir - Articles

Incidents of violence and President Kalam’s visit to the Valley figured prominently in the Urdu press.

·         Violence related incidents

The daily Uqab (25 June 2003) in its editorial expressed concern over the increasing violence in the valley. The paper pondered over the killing of two innocent people and 40 others injured in a grenade explosion in Shopian bus stand “ … grenade missed the intended target and exploded in  the bus stand claiming two lives besides injuring 40 others. If militants are asked why they hurled a grenade in public place to target the security forces, the answer would be that, they are not behind this activity and this is handiwork of security forces to malign the freedom struggle.”

The common people are at the receiving end of violence “it is understandable that security forces and militants fight each other with arms but why are innocent people victimized. They are being slaughtered for no fault of theirs by both. It is pathetic that whenever there is an incident involving killing of innocent people, security forces and militants blame each other for the same,” concluded the editorial.     

The lone bi-lingual Alsafa (24 June 2003) in its lead news reported the killing of ten citizens including three of a family across the valley, “Gunmen opened indiscriminate fire in a house belonging to security personnel and killed his father, brother and sister on the spot.  Two persons got killed and three, including two women, sustained injuries due to firing by security forces in Gagal, Kupwara. In Shopian, Udhumpur and Dooda three citizens were killed while in an encounter with security forces three militants were killed.”

It continued, “two persons were killed and atleast 35 injured in a grenade attack in Shopian. Unidentified gunmen barged into the house of one Ab. Ahad 80, of Sogam, Kupwara and opened indiscriminate fire killing Ab. Ahad and his son Ab. Rashid (Shopkeeper) besides injuring his daughter Raja, who later succumbed on the way to hospital.

Srinagar Times (29 June 2003) in its editorial “One more fidayeen attack” observed that the fidayeen attack in Jammu Cantonment area, in which 12 security force personnel were killed besides two fidayeens, has given a great set back to the peace process between the two countries. “The attack has come on the concluding day of a three day visit of President A.P.J Kalam and at the same time Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has returned after a six-day visit to China, not to forget Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf, who has nearly completed his USA visit.”

The editorial stated that Pakistan and India have both realised that to address all the prolonged issues including Kashmir, a cordial atmosphere had to be created first and they seemed to have a practical approach and better understanding towards each other in this regard. The Jammu fidayeen attack will however, leave enough room for doubts, as responsibility for the attack has been claimed by a militant outfit. “This attack has left a sound message that the militant’s network is fully operational. India will present this attack before the international community as a breach of trust committed by Pakistan in the peace process. USA, Britain and other countries who put in every effort to bring the two countries closer would also face difficulty in doing so,” summed up the editorial. 

·         President Kalam’s visit

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s visit to Kashmir is a good gesture understood positively by various political groups and by the people of Kashmir, observed the Uqab (30 June 2003) in its editorial. “On occasion of the President’s visit, no hartal call was given. This is at least an indication of an improvement in the situation. It seems that a drastic change is likely to take place on the ground. The warm welcome given to the President and the absence of any untoward incidents during the occasion clearly indicates that the process of change would be even healthier in the near future.”

It praised Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed: “credit goes to Mufti, a mature politician, who has managed to arrange for the visits of several Indian leaders to Kashmir. He has been arranging meetings and seminars too. Parliament members have visited Kashmir and now the most renowned personality of South Asia (President Kalam) has visited Kashmir.”

“By such extraordinary visits, the people of India will come to know that Kashmir is not a hell where life ceases to exist. Bureaucrats and political groups are also realizing that the situation in Kashmir is not that volatile,” finished the editorial.

·         Geelani vs. Jamat-i -Islami

The bilingual Alsafa (27-June-2003) in its lead news reported the rift between senior Hurriyat leader, Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani and the Jamat-i-Islami-- “there is strong contradiction of ideas between Geelani and Jamat-i-Islami. As a result of this, no Jamat member participated in executive meetings of the Hurriyat conference. According to reliable sources, Geelani has started consultations with his well-wishers and he is going to make an important announcement in the coming days.”

The report further read, “Geelani has called an important meeting to put to rest all the speculations. The gravity of the situation has forced Geelani to think of an alternative policy. In the meantime, Jamat in an important two day meeting held during 15-16 June decided that Geelani would not be allowed to launch a mass contact programme individually and has to be accompanied by leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in every activity of his.”