| When would separatists break hypocritical silence over killers? | | Valley observes shutdown on death anniversaries of Farooq, Lone | | Early Times Report
Jammu, May 21: As Kashmir observed shutdown on death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone on Monday, their killers are buried in a grave looked after by separatists.
Mirwaiz Farooq was killed on 21 May, 1990 while Abdul Gani Lone was killed on 21 May, 2002.
Separatists had called the march to Eidgah grounds in Old City Srinagar to commemorate the death anniversaries of late Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone, but surprisingly, Moulvi Farooq and his killer Abdullah Bangroo are buried in the same graveyard. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's father Moulvi Farooq was assassinated by Bangroo in 1990. But after Bangroo was killed, he was also buried in the same graveyard. Interestingly, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, head of Hurriyat Conference (M) is bearing expenses for maintenance of the graveyard.
Senior separatist leader Professor Abdul Gani Bhat has earlier said that: "Lone sahib, Mirwaz Farooq, and Professor Wani were not killed by the Army or the police. They were targeted by our own people. The story is a long one, but we have to tell the truth." Despite Bhat's admission, the separatists remained silent. And now the graveyard is being expanded and developed by Mirwaiz where Mirwaiz father's killer is also buried. Prof Bhat, who is a part of Hurriyat (M) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has criticized the separatists for giving shutdown calls and had said these people were only keeping the pot boiling only bringing inconveniences to the people.
"This is open secret who killed Moulvi Farooq; But the irony is that both the killer and the victim have been buried as martyrs here," said a local Firdous Ahmad.
"How can a killer be treated at par with a martyr? It is a sheer hypocrisy on part of separatists," he added.
The idea of 'martyrs' graveyard was conceived by locals of Eidgah in 1989. This plot of land, now encased in concrete and iron, used to be part of a vast playground.
But people are unhappy that both the murderers and victims are buried there. "The separatists should make it clear whether the militant killed the innocent or not. But they are silent and giving same respect to both," said Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Khanyar. |
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