The multi-pronged strategy of the security agencies seems to be delievering positive results as the subversive forces are fast losing ground and the popular support
Sheikh Khalid Jehangir
Separatists in Kashmir are desperate to somehow foment trouble and trigger unrest. They are leaving no stones unturned to recreate disturbed condition yet again in the Valley but the security agencies have thwarted their attempts by giving them and their masters a befitting reply.
In July this year, separatists tried their best to disrupt the normal life in Kashmir by giving shut-down calls on the first death anniversary of the so-called Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani, who was shot dead by the security forces in south Kashmir’s Kokernag area on July 8 last year.
This year the shutdown and so-called protest calls did not evoke any response from the people as they do not seem to be interested in so-called Azadi and Pakistan. More than 90 per cent of people in Kashmir are fed up with the separatists and their dirty politics. They want to live in peace.
As the strike call given by the separatists to “remember” Burhan didn’t evoke any response, separatists just within a week issued a fresh strike call for July 21 and asked people to assemble outside the office of United Nations at Sonawar in Srinagar. Neither did the people observe strike nor did they make any attempt to reach the UN office leaving the separatists red-faced.
These so called leaders, including Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Hurriyat dove Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the terrorist turned so-called Gandhian Yasin Malik have joined hands and are claiming to be the joint leaders of Kashmiris. They joined hands at the instructions of their bosses sitting across the Line of Control. They were told by their bosses that their stipend would be stopped if they don’t come on a one single platform. Otherwise the fact is that they cannot even stand each other.
They have proved that they dance to the tunes of their masters sitting in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). There is no denying the fact that they have made a fortune by selling the blood of Kashmiris. Their only aim is to search for the dead bodies and then call for shutdown, protests and stone-pelting. They have ruined Kashmir just for the sake of money which they receive from across the
border and the LoC. Most people in Kashmir believe that they should be put behind the bars or should be deported to Pakistan.
Since the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country, the security agencies have tightened the noose around separatists. The National Investigating Agency (NIA), which is probing the money trail into Kashmir, has already traced the murky dealings of these so-called
leaders. It has been proven beyond doubt that they orchestrate street protests, burn schools and call for strikes just for the sake of money.
This time around security agencies and law enforcing agencies have ensured that these trouble mongers don’t succeed in their nefarious designs. Their henchmen are either cooling their heels in prison or have surrendered. The role played by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other central forces, including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Army and others has been commendable. Besides fighting terrorists, these agencies have succeeded in keeping the trouble mongers at bay. This has frustrated Pakistan and its agents in Kashmir.
Hartal politics has become irrelevant and common people too have realised that radicalization won’t take them anywhere. With each passing day separatists are becoming impatient and desperate as their dirty tricks are not working.
The NIA probe has exposed the separatists and Pakistani agents and has also put brakes on the terror funding in the Valley. The radical elements, who were luring the youth to join terrorist ranks, are not seen anymore due to the crackdown launched by the security forces.
The radicalization and indoctrination of Kashmiri youth, which had emerged as major challenges in the recent past, seem to be fading away. Many radical organisations working in Kashmir on the pretext of preaching religion had been, in fact, poisoning the young minds and motivating them to pick up arms. However, the elimination of scores of local terrorists during the past few months has led to many misguided youth coming forward and surrendering before the security forces.
Recently security agencies dished out figures about the active terrorists in Kashmir. The officials said that in north Kashmir there are around 110 terrorists and most of them are foreign mercenaries while in south Kashmir there are more than 100 terrorists and most of them are locals.
Security agencies have already announced that days of terrorists operating in the Valley are numbered. At present the focus of the security agencies is to ensure that ongoing Amarnath Yatra passes off without anymore hiccups. The terrorists have been pushed to the wall. As soon as the yatra would end the security forces would be planning to launch an all-out operation against the terrorists to make Kashmir free of terrorism.
The hartal politics and terrorism in Kashmir are losing sheen due to the commendable job done by the security forces and the investigating agencies. Very soon Kashmir would be back on track and the secessionist elements would have to eat a humble pie.
(The writer is a Kahsmir-based political analyst)
