This is an archive article published on June 21, 2018
In south Kashmir, fear of hardened stance by forces
According to official figures, nearly 150 militants, most of them local youth, are active in the four districts of south Kashmir. They say that only this year, at least 80 local youths have joined militant ranks in south Kashmir.
In Shopian, the most volatile district in south Kashmir, people are bracing for scaling up anti-militancy operations by the Army and paramilitary forces.
A day after the BJP pulled out of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, people in south Kashmir fear that the PDP-BJP breakup would mean a hardened stance by the security forces. South Kashmir, a strong base of the PDP, has seen a steady surge in militancy since the killing of militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani in 2016.
“It is not good news for us and the people,” said Abdul Rashid, a PDP worker from south Kashmir’s Pulwama. “We had already witnessed a perceptible change in the approach of forces after the ceasefire ended. Now, we are going to see a more hardened approach. We hope it doesn’t happen”.
Rashid said that in the absence of a civilian government, it would be hard to reign in the security forces. “In the past, if they (security forces) were harsh on people somewhere, the people would come to us. We would go to the Chief Minister and request for her help. Things would change on the ground,” he said. “But where will we go now? Who will listen to us?”
In Shopian, the most volatile district in south Kashmir, people are bracing for scaling up anti-militancy operations by the Army and paramilitary forces. “My area has seen a lot of bloodshed in the past year and a half,” said a PDP leader from Shopian. “I can only see more bloodshed. But I am a little bit satisfied that it would no longer be on our head”.
The PDP leader said that they feel the pressure on party leaders would lessen as they are no longer part of the government.
“I think people would also realise now how important a civilian government is,” he said. “We would not be blamed for the killings anymore. I think the people would now realise how we were working as insulators”. According to official figures, nearly 150 militants, most of them local youth, are active in the four districts of south Kashmir. They say that only this year, at least 80 local youths have joined militant ranks in south Kashmir.
A PDP block president in Anantnag said they fear the militant violence would also increase and that they could be the target. “When security forces intensify operations, the militants would also try to hit back. In such a scenario, the political workers always become a casualty. We are easy targets.”
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
In Shopian, the most volatile district in south Kashmir, people are bracing for scaling up anti-militancy operations by the Army and paramilitary forces.
