Kashmir’s longest-ever curfew enters Day 50
No relaxations; essential commodities not reaching people
SRINAGAR: On Saturday, the government-imposed-curfew in Kashmir entered the 50th day, making it the longest-ever curfew in the history of the state.
Kashmiris have witnessed curfew and restrictions many times since militancy erupted in the Valley in 1989. But never has the period of restrictions stretched to 50 days.
“This time, it is unprecedented. We have witnessed a strict curfew throughout Kashmir. It must be a record,” said Noor Ahmad Baba, renowned political expert who retired as a professor from the University of Kashmir.
Curfew was imposed on July 9 after people came out on roads protesting and attacking security installations against the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, in south Kashmir. As many as 70 people have been killed and thousands injured during the protests.
One spell of curfew which has particularly been engraved in the memory of Kashmiris was imposed in 1984 during the time of the then chief minister, Ghulam Mohammad Shah, who toppled the government of Farooq Abdullah and became the chief minister.
“The curfew in the time of Shah was very nominal and did not cover whole of the Valley,” said Baba.
During early militancy, Kashmir was shut for a month as security forces laid a siege to Hazratbal shrine after militants entered it in October 1993. After sporadic protests, authorities imposed a curfew, mostly in Srinagar.
Similarly in 2010, the then NC-Congress government led by Omar Abdullah also imposed curfew after protests spiraled out of control following the revelation of a fake encounter by army in which three youth were killed in north Kashmir. The unrest continued for months together with over 110 people losing their lives but the government imposed curfew for brief spells before giving relaxations.
“This time the curfew is different from 2008 and 2010 in terms of the severity and reach. We have had not a single day’s deal or relaxation since July 9 compared to previous unrests when there were relaxations after every 10-15 days,” said 34-year-old Gowhar Ahmad, an old-city resident who works for a consultancy. Also the curfew has been strict all across the Kashmir Valley – be it Srinagar city, towns or villages – as the protests are widespread particularly in countryside.
A senior journalist, wishing not to be named, said the PDPBJP government imposed curfew expecting that protest would subside soon.
“But that did not happen. This time there is more anger and hence more defiance from people. That is why whenever they try to lift curfew, people come out protesting,” he said.
However, one aspect which has aggravated the severity of restrictions on people is the tussle between separatists and state.
The separatists have continuously come out with shutdown calendars asking people to open shops in the evenings only. In response, the state has been imposing curfew even during the nights.
Many residents have complained that forces personnel on ground were not even allowing essential commodities to reach people. “In my memory, I have never witnessed these kinds of restrictions that men in uniform don’t even allow milk or vegetables to reach markets. Recently I was not allowed to take a relative to hospital. They did not listen at all. The miseries of people are increasing. It is obviously escalating the anger,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a college lecturer.
I have never witnessed such restrictions before. Men in uniform don’t even allow milk or vegetables to reach markets. Some days ago, I was not allowed to take a relative to hospital. They did not listen at all. ISHFAQ AHMAD, a college lecturer