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| AFSPA lifting deferred following unsavoury security scenario in Kashmir | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 9: Is the security scenario in the Kashmir valley reverting to what it was between 1990 and 1994 when senior activists and workers of the National Conference not only resigned from the party but also publicised their resignation in the newspapers while announcing that they had no links with any political organisation ?
This question has assumed significance following resignation submitted by a number of Panches and Sarpanches,one news agency put the figure at 50,who visibly buckled under constant threats from militants. Militants, especially those beonging to the dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammad asked panches and sarpanches,who were elected last year,to resign failing which they would be eliminated.The Panches and Sarpanches ignored these threats for about three to four months but when militants attacked a couple of Panches in recent days it unnverved others forcing them to resign.
Police sources recalled that when militancy was at its peak in Kashmir between 1990 and 1994 senior activists of National Conference and some other organisations announced their resignations from their parent organisations only to ensure their survival.Others announced that they had no links with any politial party.All this was done under duress when militants started targeting political leaders.
Knowledgeable circles believe that the militants were trying to create a situation similar to the one that existed in Kashmir in 1989.They said the 1989 dismal seecurity scenario was being enacted to sabotage the ensuing civic elections.In 1989 Lok Sabha elections the Srinagar seat had been won by the NC candidate, Mohd.Shafi Bhat ,without a contest.Candidates dared not to file their nomination papers after militants announced that whosoever filed the nomination papers and walked to the polling booths for casting their votes would earn television sets. Candidates and the voters understood the gravity of the situation.
The threat worked in Anantnag and Baramulla constituencies too where three to five percent polling was recorded in the Lok Sabha poll in 1989.
The unsavoury development follows repeated threats being dished out by militants to the elected Panches and Sarpanches. A militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) earlier this week warned elected rural body members to resign within a week's time. The threats appeared on outfit's posters pasted on the electricity poles, walls of mosques and shops in public places in different villages of Pulwama and Shopian districts in south Kashmir.
On Friday around, 13 resignations and notices of non-affiliation of Sarpanches and Panches including women members appeared in the local newspapers in the shape of paid advertisements. Another three members had published their resignations and non-affiliation with any mainstream party in another local newspaper yesterday.
"Due to unfavorable circumstances I am resigning from the post of elected rural body membership. Now onwards I have nothing to do with this post and am not affiliated with any political party. The information is for general public," reads one such resignation from Ali Mohammed Dar, an elected Sarpanch, published as paid advertisement in a Srinagar based daily.The threats and the resignations have created panic among the elected members in villages of other districts as well.
Following a sudden spurt in militant attacks, the security agencies have revived the earlier practice of area-domination through night patrolling."The practice of joint night patrolling (area-domination) by Army, CRPF and JK Police has been revived in several parts of the Valley following latest incidents of violence," the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt Gen AM Hasnain has told a media conference.
He said following improvement in the situation, the Army had stopped night patrolling and militants took advantage of this to ferry explosives and other ammunition. "They took advantage of it and started moving from one place to another and carry out attacks especially in south Kashmir. Now Army has started area domination during the night in south Kashmir and we are hopeful that things will again be under control soon," he added.
Police sources say Sarpanches and Panches have become the soft target with south Kashmir emerging as a hotbed of fresh violence.The area also witnessed two incidents of decamping of weapons from police guards and the culprits are yet to be nabbed.
Following these unsavoury developments senior functionaries of the Army have again conveyed to the Government their reservation on the demand for withdrawing AFSPA.Defence Ministry sources said that the plan of withdrawing AFSPA even from five districts,as suggested by Chief Minister,Omar Abdullah,has been deferred for the time being in view of the latest security situation and in the context of the current bumper to traffic to Kashmir and on account of the upcoming Amarnath yatra.
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