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| Fear grips vulnerable sections as Kashmir witnesses return of "unidentified culture" | | | Bashir Assad
srinagar, Aug 4: This year has not only seen a rise in militancy in the Kashmir valley with gunfights raging from North to South but is also witnessing return of the culture of unidentified gunmen due to which fear grips among the vulnerable sections of the society like elected Panches, Sarpanches, political workers and minority people holding back in Kashmir.
From episodes like fresh "threat letter" purportedly written by militants asking Kashmiri Pandits to leave the Valley and warnings issued to Panches and Sarpanches particularly in South Kashmir, it becomes abundantly clear that the "culture" of people being intimidated and at times killed by unidentified gunmen has returned to Kashmir. It merits a mention here that more than four hundred Panches and Sarpanches have resigned so far owing to the threat from unidentified persons. And the fresh "threat letter" -allegedly written by a militant outfit to Kashmiri Pandit families in Sheikhpora Budgam in central Kashmir, asking them to leave their homes- termed as "bogus" by the police and separatist leaders, has given vent to the sense of insecurity among segments of the society including the majority community.
The principal opposition People’s Democratic Party has been accusing the National Conference led coalition Government of promoting and patronizing the "culture" of people being killed by unidentified gunmen. "It was not happening during PDP rule. Who are these unidentified gunmen? They should be exposed," Sameer Koul, PDP spokesperson told Early Times. He said the "culture" of people being killed by unidentified gunmen has returned to Kashmir and the latest "threat letter" to Kashmiri Pandits who returned to Kashmir clearly shows that NC is promoting this culture again. "Assurance to their Pandit breathern by the majority community and also by the separatist confirms that "unidentified culture" is something synonymous with National Conference" Koul said.
Nearly 500 Kashmiri Pandit families, living at Sheikhpora colony, had received the letter that had "warned the community to leave the Valley within a week, failing which they will face consequences (sic)". The handwritten letter in Urdu was sent by a registered post to Sheikhpora colony triggering panic among the Pandits.
"The language used in the letter is highly abusive and uncivilized. Since they had asked us to leave the Valley, we consulted the majority community and elders who have assured us that there is nothing to worry," said a Pandit community member.
"We do not want to make it an issue since separatists and majority community members have come to our rescue," said another Pandit member.
The letter, allegedly sent by Jaish-e-Mohammad Mujahideen, had created panic in the community living in the Budgam district neighborhood under a rehabilitation scheme for displaced Kashmiri Pandit families. Soon after, they approached separatist leaders, including hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The two leaders assured of security to the community and described the letter as a tactic to "paint the Kashmiris' freedom struggle as a communal movement". The Mirwaiz assured a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits that they were a part of Kashmir and the majority community was morally responsible for their safety, a spokesperson said.
A police official also dismissed the letter as a "prank". "We have registered a case and are trying to find out who is responsible for the mischief," the official said. |
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