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IN KASHMIR PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH VIOLENCE
IN KASHMIR PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH VIOLENCE
Times of India, April 6, 1995
Sopore: "We are fed up with this cycle of violence. We want peace. This is
the refrain one hears in this township, a stronghold of the fundamenatalist
Jamait-e-Islami.
"Militancy can never pay and will never pay even if there were 10 lakh
militants. Ultimately, a solution will have to come not from the barrel
of the gun but through a dialogue across the table", says 60-year-old Ali
Mohammed, who owns a fertilizer shop in the bustling Iqbal Chowk. "Presently,
we are sandwitched between the militants and the security forces", he adds,
admitting that most people are being forced to harbour militants.
He reveals how he has tried in vain to persuade the militants not to hurl
grenades or open fire in public places as it only endangers the common man.
"But the militants don't listen to us. How do you persuade a gun wielding
person," he asks in a resigned tone. "People want elections. But I doubt if
they will vote because of fear of the gun", he says.
He substantiates his argument by pointing to an incident that occurred on
April 1 in which militants had lobbed a grenade at a BSF picket located in
a busy market place.
On the surface, however, the situation seems to be perfectly normal. Many
shops have been reconstructed and most are open. Some shopkeepers are
engaged in brisk business while others stare into the street. Groups of
people are engaged in animated discussion. Buses overflowing with passengers,
horse drawn tongas and other vehicles fill the main roads. Several shops
filled with electronic and other gadgets indicate that militancy has hardly
checked consumerism. Some shops sell the latest film magazines and pictures
of popular young actors and actresses.
"There is a growing realisation among people that what the militants are
doing is wrong. They are becoming a part of the problem", says a 36 year-old
Abdul who runs a kitchenware shop. "We want peace", he says, refusing to
comment on the issue of "azadi". "I think people are more interested in
peace", he says. "I am constantly worried about how to feed 16 mouths at
home. My aged parents, my brother's widow, his five children and a son-in-
law are living with me, my wife and five children", he points out. "How can
anything other than looking after them be more important to me"? he asks.
Significantly, despite the fact that Pakistan has diplomatic, political
and moral support to Kashmiri militants, people in this township have no
word of praise or support for Pakistan. This is despite the fact that
Sopore is the stronghold of the Jamait-e-Islami, a front organisation of the
pro-Pakistani Hizbul Mujahideen. "Nobody wants Kashmir to merge in Pakistan.
Pakistan would be the worst option for Kashmir", says 22-year-old Mohammed
Younis, an employee at the Government medical hospital.
"I did not become a militant because I don't think it has served any
purpose:, he says. "Three of my cousins who were militants died in encounters.
What did I gain? What did my family gain? he asks and then answers his own
question by saying "Only misery and unhappiness".
