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| Does right to protest exist in democratic Kashmir? | | | ET REPORT
JAMMU, May 29: Even as the defense minister, AK Antony assured strict action against the culprits involved in Nadihal killings, the police in Kashmir used force on the people carrying the coffins of the exhumed youth to their native village for proper burial. Yet again the message was conveyed in clear and strong terms. `You cannot register protest even if you are killed in a fake encounter. Just keep mum. Chanting slogans while carrying coffins amounts to severe breach of security of the state.'
The people of Kashmir came out in large numbers to fight the `raiders' in 1947 to uphold the decision of joining the Indian union. New Delhi, perhaps, was more than satisfied by the `Kashmir miracle' but the police in a bid to prove their worth resorted to extra-judicial and extra-constitutional means to strike a chord in the Indian capital. The police resorted to extra-constitutional means to get rid of persons who dared to voice their concern. The defense of India Rules (DIR) were recklessly, ruthlessly and indiscriminately used to project `unrest' in Kashmir. The police rigged elections, gagged the media and did everything to demonize Kashmiris and its peaceful people. Three decades later, the police created fake militant groups, conducted raids in remote villages and arrested innocent people. The trend continued for several years. Finally the youth did what the police wanted them to do. They resorted to guns and Kashmir militancy became an industry with the police its major beneficiary.
When the `democratic' rule is compared to the autocratic rule of Dogra kings, it becomes extremely difficult to criticize them especially as far as role of police is concerned. Just two persons were exiled by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. The decision was taken by the king himself. The police had absolutely no role in it. When Maharaja Hari assumed office, both of them were pardoned. They came back and stayed in the Kashmir as normal citizens. On the contrary, a police known for his brutality would extern a person on his own. This trend continued up to GM Sadiq's regime. Thousands were exiled and only a few came back only to be persecuted by the police.
Surprisingly no custodial killing, no extra-judicial execution, no fake encounter killing has been reported especially during Hari Singh's regime. What did the people of Kashmir get by participating in the so-called freedom movement led by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah? A brutal police force that derives vicarious pleasure by spraying bullets on innocent and unarmed civilians? Right to protest is the essence of a democratic dispensation. Unless this right is recognized, democracy cannot flourish. Today's brutality adds yet another black chapter in the tainted history of the state police force.
What do the police expect from the people by the way? When innocent people get killed in a fake encounter, when students fall to tear smoke shells, when women are raped, nobody must expect people to sing songs of praise to glorify the culprits. Such acts would trigger violent protests. This is human nature. But then Kashmir is a different land. Here a doctor performing autopsy on a rape victim cannot speak the truth in the interest of security of state. Long live the Jammu Kashmir police. Long live the security of state!
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