As unrest in the Kashmir valley moves into the sixth month on Thursday, it is increasingly losing intensity as life appears to be returning to the pre-July 8 routine.
The unrest, sparked by the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8, will enter its sixth month tomorrow. However, the intensity of the unrest has significantly reduced in recent weeks.
The widespread protests and demonstrations – which fuelled the unrest in its initial months – have now ended following the arrest of nearly 8,000 protesters and separatist activists in a massive crackdown by the police. The number of protests in the region has come down to minimal during the recent weeks from the high of 201 incidents registered on the second day of the unrest on July 9.
The latest protest in the region took place today in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district where a separatist rally was held in the Murran area, leading to clashes between demonstrators and policemen.
During the unrest, more than 80 civilians were killed and several thousand injured, some of them blinded by pellets, as the security forces attempted to quell the most widespread spell of protests in recent years.
The shutdown, called by a loose coalition of separatist leaders and the only remaining sign of the unrest, is having a partial impact and is mostly limited to the main markets.
The public transport is back to business and operational in all districts of the region. The government offices and private businesses have also resumed work with little impact from the shutdown called by the separatists.
The state government machinery, which remained paralysed during the initial months of the unrest, is also making a quick comeback. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti presided over several functions in the city yesterday and also toured several districts this week, which was almost impossibleduring the initial phase of the unrest.
The separatist leaders, who have been steering the unrest by issuing week-long protest and shutdown calendars, have also hinted at a significant scale down. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, one of the three key separatist leaders involved in issuing the calendars, had last week said that the separatists were preparing a “long-term (protest) programme” which will not stall the functioning of trade and schools.
In a statement, issued jointly by Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz yesterday, the separatist trio had asked tourists and pilgrims to visit the region and enjoy its beauty. The appeal was a desperate attempt by the separatists to help restore the broken economic structure of the region.
Separatists extend work days to three
The resistance leaders have extended the protest program against civilian killings in Kashmir till December 15.
On Friday, December 9, the resistance leaders comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik have called for ‘Friday Freedom Congregation.’
“Post Friday prayers, hold Freedom Congregation across Jammu & Kashmir at the places identified and agreed upon locally and mutually; Resistance/Masjid Committees/Youth Volunteers of Villages/Localities coordinate & ensure the arrangements,” they said. “On this day there will be no relaxation.”
The resistance leaders have declared Saturday, December 10; Sunday, December 11; and Monday, December 12, as General Relaxation Days. “People are requested to use exclusively public transport on these days for the support of transport community; As a social and community responsibility, encourage your family and friends as well for the same,” they said.
The resistance leaders have urged people to march to UNMOGIP office at Sonwar On December 10, Human Rights Day. “Post Zuhr prayers, march one and all and turn your vehicles from entire Srinagar (Qamarwari, Bemina, Batmaloo, Lalchowk, Rambagh, Sonwar, Dalagate&Shehr-i-Khas) towards UNMOGIP office and handover a memorandum to the military observers regarding India’s continuous denial of political (right to self-determination), civil, social, religious and economic rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir for last seven decades. With more than half a million armed forces to crush the people’s resistance against illegal military control of less than 10 million people, since 1947 Indian forces have killed more than a hundred thousand people in Kashmir region and around half a million people in Jammu region, forced tens of thousands into disappearances, maimed thousands, imprisoned and tortured hundreds of thousands. Indian military has used rape and molestation as an instrument to demoralize the people,” they said.
On Monday, December 12, they declared full day relaxation. “In view of Milad-un-Nabi (sallal-lahu-alaihi-wasallam) there will be a full day relaxation for all,” they said.
On Tuesday, December 13, the resistance leaders urged women to observe ‘Women’s Day’.
“Assemble and occupy local chowks and centres from Zuhr to Asr in the vicinity of your mohallas, villages and localities; Protest with flags, placards and banners with freedom messages and slogans.”
“Lawyers exempted: Lawyers are requested to appear in courts for pleading the cases,” they said. “On this day, there will be no relaxation.”
On Wednesday, December 14, the resistance leaders have called for Freedom March to Trathpora, SherabadKhore, Mantrigam, S.K.Pora, Wail, Lasjan, Quil, Memandar, Manzgam, Shahabad.
“From 7 a.m, march one and all from Kupwara to Trathpora, Baramulla to SherabadKhore, Bandipora to Mantrigam, Budgam to S.K. Pora, Ganderbal to Wail, Srinagar to Lasjan, Pulwama to Quil, Shopian to Memandar, Kulgam to Manzgam and Islamabad to Shahabad; Post Zuhr prayer, hold Freedom Congregation at the place identified and agreed upon locally and mutually; Resistance/Masjid Committees/Youth Volunteers of these Blocks/Villages coordinate and ensure the arrangements,” they said. “On this day there will be relaxation from 4 p.m to 8 a.m.”
On Thursday, December 15, they have called for ‘One Day Azadi Convention.’
“Neighbouring villages and localities organize one day Azadi convention from 11 a.m to 4 p.m in respective areas; Deliberate and discuss ways and means to strengthen the ongoing people’s uprising for freedom from Indian forcible control; Resistance/Masjid Committees/Youth Volunteers of these areas coordinate and ensure the arrangements,” they said. “On this day, there will be relaxation from 4 p.m to 8 a.m.”
The resistance leaders urged people to observe shutdown across Jammu and Kashmir on all days except for the relaxation mentioned in the program.
“Relaxation period is for all including public and private transporters, educational institutions as well as factories and other industrial unit holders. Public & private vehicular movement not to be stopped after 10 p.m to 8 a.m on all nights. Lockdown all the routes entering your Mohallas, Villages and Localities by every means during night to protect people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by Indian forces and J&K Police. Play Islamic and AzadiTaranas from Maghrib to Isha on all days,” they added.
