Why Shoot the Messenger?

THE recent attack on the sub-editor of local English daily Kashmir Images is a pointer to the risk faced by Valley scribes. The attacks on t...

THE recent attack on the sub-editor of local English daily Kashmir Images is a pointer to the risk faced by Valley scribes. The attacks on the journalists here began with the murder of Alsafa editor Mohammad Shaban Vakil in the early ’90s. Since then, it has been a neverending story — a bid on the life of former BBC correspondent Yusuf Jameel, attacks on Aftaab and Afaaq offices, a grenade attack on Srinagar Times editor G.M. Sofi, attacks on Greater Kashmir editor Fayaz A Kaloo and Uqaab editor, abduction of Greater Kashmir executive editor and Nida-e-Mushriq editor. Most of the attackers are yet to be apprehended.

Locals Tired of Frequent Strikes

STRIKES have become the order of the day in Kashmir. There are hartals against alleged atrocities by security forces, killings, crackdowns, rapes, molestations, arrests. Leading the various outfits which have overused the strike card is the Hurriyat Conference, which has even been dubbed the ‘‘Hartal Conference’’. Recently, strikes were called to protest the arrest of JKLF leader Yasin Malik, the killing of Abdul Gani Lone and the arrest of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Oft-repeated, the hartal card has lost its punch.

Rot Setting In Among Militants

LAST week’s clash between the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Hizbul Mujahideen in Doda has brought back memories of 1991-92, when group fights between various militant outfits were commonplace. Gradually, many groups either disbanded or merged into bigger outfits. Many joined hands to launch joint operations against the security forces. But now, the Doda clash is being seen as a sign of growing frustration among the militants, a direct fallout of the clampdown on their activities, camps and money routes.