The year of Kashmir -Headlines -2017:
The main trigger for the violence in 2017 in Kashmir is the ‘Burhan aftermath’-a series of violent protests in the Valley after the killing of Burhan Wani, militant commander of the Kashmir-based terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen by Indian security forces on 8 July 2016.
The year 2017 has therefore been christened as ‘The Year of Kashmir’ by terrorist organization Jamaat –ud-Dawa (JuD), earlier Lashkar-e-Taiba and now called Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir (TAJK). The declaration is a clear indication of the surge of militancy in Kashmir in the days to come…..
January 2017: Kashmiri locals in the valley led by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference observed Republic day January 26th as ‘ Black day’.
February 2017
In February 2017, the CRPF introduced deflectors as a modification for its pellet guns after mounting pressure from human rights organizations. Amnesty International India called for a ban last year.
March 2017
3 civilians were killed and at least 20 others, including the army personnel and police, were injured during an operation in Chadoora
Stone pelters in an interview stated they are paid for protesting. They refused to disclose the identity of the financiers.
April 2017:
A by-election for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held on 9th April. Violence broke out leading to 8 civilian deaths and over 170 injuries. The voter turnout was recorded to be 7%, which is lowest ever in the past three decades. National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah won the seat defeating his PDP rival.
A report by Indian Intelligence Bureau said that ISI supplied Rs 800 crore to Kashmiri separatist leaders to fuel unrest in the Valley and to pay off stone pelters and petrol bomb throwers.
A military officer Major Leetul Gogoi accused of using a man atop an army jeep as a human shield to stop protesters throwing stones at his convoy in the Kashmir valley won a commendation from the army chief amidst a barrage of protests of human rights activists.
May 2017
The Armed Forces Tribunal has suspended the life imprisonment of five army personnel who were convicted by a General Court Martial for staging the killing of three Kashmiri civilians at Macchil in 2010, and later branding then as foreign militants allegedly for medals and cash rewards.
Clashes were triggered in the Kashmir valley after the killing of Sabzar Ahamd Bhat of the Hizbul Mujahideen, an aide of Burhan Wani.
June 2017: saw a the mob lynching and mutilation of on-duty Indian officer DSP Ayub Pandith on the holy night of Shab-e-Qadr; the day Muslims believe that their sins would be forgiven
Raids were conducted on separatists in June; money worth 2.5 crore and letterheads of LeT were found.
Firecrackers were burst by Kashmiri locals as the Pakistan team beat India in the ICC Champions Trophy cricket final in England.
The US declared Salahuddin a "global terrorist" before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first meeting with President Donald Trump on 26th June in Washington.
July’ 2017:
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking probe on separatist leader Yasin Malik and others for offences and murder of Kashmiri Pandits during militancy in the Valley in 1989-90 stating that after 27 years it would be difficult to gather evidence.
India has witnessed the third highest number ie 927 of terror attacks in 2016 as per data compiled by the US State Department after Iraq and Afghanistan. Pakistan was fourth.
Seven Kashmiri separatists, including the son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, were sent to 10 days National Information Agency (NIA) custody by a New Delhi court.
Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with money laundering and terror financing.
Barter trade across the LoC has become a source of funding militancy. J&K police seized over 25 kg of heroine in the border town of Uri coming from Pakistan.
Security forces have now turned to capsicum gel-based teargas shells to quell mobs instead of pellet guns which injured many people
Panun Kashmir an organization of Kashmiri Pandits appealed to RSS for abrogation of Article 370 offering special privileges of J&K which has become a permanent feature since October 2015 as ruled by J&K court.
A bus carrying a group of Amarnath pilgrims, of which seven were killed and 19 injured in a deadly terrorist attack
The Army celebrated the 18th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
J& K became the last state to implement the Goods and Services Tax GST on July 5th.
Conclusion: The over-militarization of Kashmiri society under the PDP regime, whose electoral politics is centered on the demilitarization and the "winning of hearts and minds" strategy in Kashmir Valley, is indeed ironical. Clearly the govt. has only worsened the prevailing situation. A solution remains a distant dream……
