In Kashmir, it is recklessness at its worst (Comment)

It is very easy — indeed it has become fashionable — to denounce security forces for the unending violence in Kashmir Valley. Sadly, it is not the full story.

Of course, the security forces have done what they should not. They have fired and killed people taking part in demonstrations. I doubt if they would have acted similarly had the protests taken place in Mumbai.

But that is only one side of the story. As Kashmiris express anguish over their fate, it is equally important to know the other side.

Take Eid day, for example. That was one day when there was no provocation by the security forces; yet unprecedented violence took place. There is no doubt in the minds of many ordinary Kashmiris that the mayhem of that holy day was planned by those who style themselves as Kashmiri leaders.

Knowing that police may not open fire because of widespread criticism, more than 400 youths riding motorcycles gathered at the historic Lal Chowk in Srinagar to hoist green flags atop the clock tower. Apart from other things, they destroyed a small park there. In no time, it was proved how conveniently separatists can convert a religious gathering into a frenzied mob.

The day provided an opportunity to Miwaiz Omar Farooq, the so-called moderate, to prove that he stands second to none in popularity. For three months, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been calling the shots.

Despite all the arson that day, security forces fired mainly in the air. But the “peaceful protestors” attacked police and paramilitary camps!

On their part, the police and even the Central Reserve Police Force, which does not enjoy the kind of awe the Border Security Force did, maintained restraint to avoid civilian killings.

No one talks about the ordinary Kashmiris’ crippled lives, about closed schools and colleges, huge business losses, and paralysed banks and public transport.

In a desperate bid to force India to accept Kashmir as an international dispute, Geelani and his men have been issuing “protest calendars” for the last three months. Congress and National Conference leaders have been left issuing media statements. None of their leaders has mustered the courage to mix with those who voted them to power in 2008.

Pursuing their single point agenda to somehow dislodge Omar Abdullah, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is acting like the mouthpiece of the separatists. They have no guts to challenge the separatists who are playing havoc with their children’s education, the valley’s economy and the plight of the thousands of daily wage earners.

According to a recent survey, businessmen in the valley have suffered losses of around Rs.21,000 crore ($4.5 billion) in the last three months. Interestingly, businessmen in Jammu say they have also suffered losses of Rs.7,100 crore ($1.5 billion) because of snapped trade links with Srinagar.

Police stations, paramilitary camps, public property and homes of mainstream political activists have been torched.

The valley is passing through anarchy where young boys aged hardly more than 12 years stop vehicles and check the identity cards of the occupants and to spot out policemen.

A head constable was recently dragged out of his vehicle in the Ompora area of Srinagar and beaten mercilessly. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has come under pressure to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, release separatists and stone-pelters, compensate those injured and killed in the violence, and withdraw security forces from urban areas.

But it can be safely stated that none of these measures, however welcome they may be, will usher in peace in the valley.

Because that is not the agenda of the separatists. The peace they ask for is a peace that will be blessed by Pakistan.

For Kashmiri Muslim Sufis like us, that is unacceptable. As a government officer here said: “Give them your hand, and they will demand your head.”

(The author is a businessman from Srinagar. He does not want his name to be revealed for fear of reprisal.)