Attacks no deterrent, this tour operator loves Kashmir

Kashmir, he says, is ‘‘a place of Sufis not militants and a little violence here and there is not reason enough for fleeing from it.’’ When asked how he could persuade the tourists to visit Kashmir at a time when there is a renewed surge in violence and more grenade attacks on holiday-makers, Vishnav says he invoked the Kashmir’s peaceful history and the hospitality of its people. ‘‘I told them Kashmir is a paradise on earth. You cannot miss it for a few stray grenade attacks.’’

Vishnav is not new to Kashmir. His association with this valley goes back to 1994 when he brought his first tourists to the state. ‘‘The Valley at the time was deep in turmoil. It was scary but I still got the visitors and safely ferried them across,’’ Vishnav remembers. ‘‘Over the years, I have grown to love this place and its people. They are lovely and very hospital. How can you be scared in such an environment?’’ The grenade attack in which he was injured was made at Beehama Ganderbal, 20 kilometers to the north of Srinagar and the incident with all its attendant horror is etched on Vishnav’s mind.

‘‘Our bus had stopped for a while in the bazar, when suddenly something exploded right amidst us. Suddenly everything went blind before my eyes. And when I came to senses my right foot and leg was covered in blood,’’ says Vishnav.

‘‘But then the Kashmiri people took over and saved our lives.” But the attack is now a distant past. ‘‘I have come to Kashmir with tourists in the heyday of militancy, when it was a risk to even move in Srinagar. But nothing happened,’’ Vishnav says. ‘‘Tourists were hit at a time when Kashmir violence is generally supposed to be at its ebb. So, even peace is no guarantee that no violence will happen. So why be scared?’’

Tourists return to Valley

SRINAGAR: After a lull following a series of grenade attacks which killed six people, tourists have slowly started returning to the Valley. President of the Kashmir Houseboat Owners’ Association Azeem Tuman said: ‘‘We are witnessing a gradual increase of tourists. Over the past few days, the tourists have started to return in small groups. There have been some advance bookings also.’’ ‘‘Yes, it is showing a sign of improvement. We are regaining tourists. It is a slow process and will take some time,’’ said SP, Tourism, M S Punoo.