Police state

Deprived people and use of force by the government makes perfect ingredients of a police state where security establishment dictates everything including response to public demands such as a probe into the burning of a revered shrine. In the past 18 years of political struggle in Kashmir, there are countless examples of disproportionate force as the only response from the governments to public protests against deprivation or for genuine demands. The governments that proudly like to call themselves ‘democratically elected’ should not unleash police and paramilitary forces on hapless people like beasts as happened on Saturday at Soura. Even the people representing the fourth estate were beaten to the pulp by the cops and the CRPF personnel, causing injuries to at least 30 people. It was not a political agitation like the one seen on Valley streets from June 23-July 2. The residents of Soura and adjoining localities were genuinely anguished over the mysterious fire that damaged the revered shrine of Jenab Sahib. The shrine is held in equal veneration by thousands of Kashmiris like the famed Hazratabal for it’s believed to house the relics of Holy Prophet (SAW). To give vent to their anger the people took to streets demanding a probe into the fire which they alleged was an act of sabotage. They could have been easily pacified by sending a civil official to the spot if the authorities really wanted to solve the issue amicably. But instead police and CRPF troopers, whose presence always adds fuel to fire and is detested by most of the Kashmiris were rushed. And as expected the police/CRPF personnel went berserk and used batons and fired teargas canisters to disperse the people. It doesn’t matter if the recipients happen to be children or women. Bullets have to be fired in air. The trigger happy cops and troopers seemed working on and old script: don’t listen to the people; their bones have to be broken “for all Kashmiris are beasts who deserve batons only.” And yet again, a cook-and-bull story was manufactured to bail out the erring CRPF troopers. According to a CRPF spokesman, “Our men did not even use force on the mob, let alone the scribes.” The statement clearly shows the CRPF officials don’t give a damn to photographs appearing in newspapers and visuals on television channels showing their associates beating children, men, women and photojournalists. Earlier, during the nine-day agitation the CRPF men made news of newsmen by breaking their bones and cameras at many places across the Srinagar city. Kashmiris have been subjected to so much of neglect and deprivation that they do without many basic amenities which are available to most people of the world. Be it asking for a metalled road, drinking water and electricity, they’ll think twice before raising their voice. Because except for batons and bullets the so-called elected rulers have nothing to offer to them. This has been established time and again. Who will forget that eight young Kashmiris were send to graves even much before the eruption of militancy in 1988 for demanding electricity? What a hell we are living in and what a detestable rulers we have!