As many as 28 civilians have been killed by terrorists this year alone. Five of them belonged to local Hindu and Sikh communities. Two were non-local Hindu labourers. The rest of the 21 people killed by terrorists were Muslims. The writing is on the wall plain for everyone to see. Kashmiri Muslims are the biggest casualty of the bloody proxy war imposed by Pakistan. We are back to the times when each dawn seems to bring a new conspiracy, a new attack to disintegrate the social fabric of the Valley. The attack is on Kashmiriyat, the very soul of Kashmir.
An evil and malicious feud is being fought in the name of the Kashmiris and unfortunately the locals have become party to this venomous game. The tragedy is that the people of the valley are the losing the most, in some cases they are losing everything. The unique identity which must be protected, the indigenous culture, the social values. Everything is being ripped apart by this war of hate. As one horrific act after another plays out before us, we are watching Kashmir again turning towards the 90s. The recent killings of five local Hindus or Sikhs and two non-local labourers have jolted us all. The killings have brought forth the grim picture of the environment of fear and intimidation. We are giving the children of Kashmir this environment built on the basis of an anarchic narrative that claims to represent the majority community.
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo had said in February 2019 that “if the Indian government scraps Article 370/35A, no non-local can stay in Kashmir”. The terror blogger Kashmir Fight has been lighting this fire. The terror groups operating in Kashmir, sponsored and remote-controlled by Pakistan, have executed a spate of killings to execute Pakistan’s xenophobic vision for Kashmir. It is unfortunate that some politicians from Kashmir have added fuel to this fire with their statements.
The Role Of The Land Mafia Needs To Be Investigated
The role of the land mafia in threatening the minorities in Kashmir cannot be ruled out. Several sections of the society including the land mafia have developed a huge interest in the bloody conflict. Over the years these sections of society have amassed wealth beyond one’s imagination. The conflict as such has turned out to be a huge industry for these conflict managers.
Interestingly, the majority of the land mafia has direct or indirect links or relations with one or the other separatist leader, terror group, or terrorist commander. The land mafia is controlled by the separatists. Through the separatists, this mafia is connected to Pakistan. The orders issued for the retrieval of the immovable property of the minority community may or may not be based on rationale. But this has added to the insecurity of the people who are party to the distress sale of minority property. There is a possibility that the land mafia – which has links with terrorist groups and organizations – may have hired groups and individuals to threaten and kill the people of the minority community. This may have been done to resist the imposition of the government order. This needs to be investigated.
In 1990, when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee from the valley, their properties were confiscated by the land mafia. Many of these properties are still illegally occupied. Many Pandits were forced into distress sale of their properties. The state has started a campaign to remove the illegal occupation of the properties of Kashmiri Pandits. Pandits are filing complaints of possession of their properties. The land mafia in Kashmir has benefited hugely by selling Pandit properties. Some Kashmiris are of the view that with the talk of Pandits returning and reclaiming their properties, the land mafia is deliberately snuffing out all such possibility by activating the terror cells. At the same time, most Kashmiri Muslims believe that Pandits and Sikhs are an integral part of Kashmir, and their exit is unacceptable.
ISI’s Blueprint For Kashmir, Executed by Terror Groups
The terror blog Kashmirfight.wordpress.com, run by anonymous handlers in Pakistan and UK, uploaded content on September 24 viciously targeting the non-locals. The blog listed 21 strategies, out of which eight strategies have been executed. This cannot be a mere coincidence that a terror blog lists strategies, and within days action is carried out.
The following is the horrific plan of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence for Kashmir. All the human rights defenders whose hearts bleeds for Kashmir must take note of this gruesome blueprint. It must invite global condemnation.
Target every non-local official whether in the valley or at their native places.
Target non-locals whosoever comes to valley for an extended stay.
Kashmiri Pandits who have migrated from Kashmir in early 1990s and now are planning to shift back.
Every non-local employee whosoever it might be irrespective of the department he/she is employed with/in.
Target every house of JK Police personnel.
Petrol bombs, stones etc. to be thrown towards informers locations locally.
Wherever any non-local is located he is to be warned to leave Valley at earliest.
Local Government employees should show their resentment against such orders/circulars which tries to curb their freedom and goes against their work.
Sporting events organised must to be banned/boycotted.
Whosoever is involved in government/armed forces events has to be dealt harshly.
No local must be allowed to welcome back those Kashmiri Pandits who have migrated from Kashmir.
Target heads of educational institutions.
Boycott all those media outlets who names have emerged as collaborators
Maintain distance with armed forces especially JK Police.
Identify every collaborator.
Locals should shun their dependence on non-locals
Keep distance from such elements who are against liberation of Kashmir cause
Try to understand the negative impact of non-locals residing in JK
Non-locals to be targeted irrespective of their nature of work.
Expansion of operations outside J&K to be intensified.
With such a sinister plot afoot in the valley with the puppet masters from across the border pulling the strings of terrorist organisations to do their dirty work, its no wonder that the people of Kashmir are suffering. India must unite as one and reach out to help each and every Kashmiri and send out a united message to Pakistan that their nefarious designs will fail, Kashmiriyat will prevail, India will ensure it!
(Rishi Suri is the editor of The Daily Milap, India's oldest and largest combined circulated Urdu newspaper. He has previously served as the Media Advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister).