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How Killing of Prominent Separatist Set Off Turmoil in Kashmir How Killing of Prominent Separatist Set Off Turmoil in Kashmir
(about 20 hours later)
NEW DELHI — Thousands of protesters thronged streets in towns across the Kashmir valley on July 9, the first of days of clashes with security officers. The violence was among the worst in the restive region in years, leaving more than 30 people dead, including a police officer, and thousands injured. Most of the deaths were protesters shot by security forces, and hospitals were crowded with wounded civilians. Protesters attacked police vehicles, security posts and other government property.NEW DELHI — Thousands of protesters thronged streets in towns across the Kashmir valley on July 9, the first of days of clashes with security officers. The violence was among the worst in the restive region in years, leaving more than 30 people dead, including a police officer, and thousands injured. Most of the deaths were protesters shot by security forces, and hospitals were crowded with wounded civilians. Protesters attacked police vehicles, security posts and other government property.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, and Indian-administered Kashmir has long been troubled, plagued by the aftershocks of an armed insurgency born in the late 1980s, which was aided by Pakistan. A heavy Indian military presence in the Kashmir valley largely vanquished the insurgency, but calls for self-rule persist, and civilians bristle against the security forces, which human rights groups accuse of abuses.Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, and Indian-administered Kashmir has long been troubled, plagued by the aftershocks of an armed insurgency born in the late 1980s, which was aided by Pakistan. A heavy Indian military presence in the Kashmir valley largely vanquished the insurgency, but calls for self-rule persist, and civilians bristle against the security forces, which human rights groups accuse of abuses.
The protests began the day after Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a commander for the Hizbul Mujahedeen, a Kashmiri militant group, was killed by security forces in a gun battle on July 8. The next day, thousands attended his funeral in his home village of Tral, in south Kashmir.The protests began the day after Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a commander for the Hizbul Mujahedeen, a Kashmiri militant group, was killed by security forces in a gun battle on July 8. The next day, thousands attended his funeral in his home village of Tral, in south Kashmir.
Mr. Wani, in his early 20s, had become a prominent face of separatist sentiment in the Kashmir valley.Mr. Wani, in his early 20s, had become a prominent face of separatist sentiment in the Kashmir valley.
He built up a following on social media, posting pictures of himself and his associates in combat fatigues, often carrying arms. Though the numbers of militants in the region has declined, he became the face of a new homegrown militancy based in south Kashmir, his appeal apparently heightened by his educated, middle-class roots. His father, Muzaffar Ahmad Wani, the head of a secondary school in Kashmir, told The Indian Express that his son’s inspiration to join the militancy had sprung from a beating he and his brother received at the hands of the security forces in 2010. He built up a following on social media, posting pictures of himself and his associates in combat fatigues, often carrying arms. Though the numbers of militants in the region has declined sharply since the 1990s, he became the face of a small, new homegrown militancy based in south Kashmir, his appeal apparently heightened by his educated, middle-class roots. His father, Muzaffar Ahmad Wani, the head of a secondary school in Kashmir, told The Indian Express that his son’s inspiration to join the militancy had sprung from a beating he and his brother received at the hands of the security forces in 2010.
His appeal, observers say, spread across social media, reaching a large number of young people who had known only conflict in Kashmir, and his death, some fear, will only magnify that appeal.His appeal, observers say, spread across social media, reaching a large number of young people who had known only conflict in Kashmir, and his death, some fear, will only magnify that appeal.
“Mark my words — Burhan’s ability to recruit in to militancy from the grave will far outstrip anything he could have done on social media,” a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir State, Omar Abdullah, posted on Twitter after the violence broke out.“Mark my words — Burhan’s ability to recruit in to militancy from the grave will far outstrip anything he could have done on social media,” a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir State, Omar Abdullah, posted on Twitter after the violence broke out.
What is striking about the recent unrest is the speed and scale with which it grew — encompassing almost the entire Kashmir valley and bringing thousands onto the streets. The authorities called a curfew in the valley and suspended mobile internet services in response.What is striking about the recent unrest is the speed and scale with which it grew — encompassing almost the entire Kashmir valley and bringing thousands onto the streets. The authorities called a curfew in the valley and suspended mobile internet services in response.
Further, the protests were sparked by the death of a militant at the hands of the security forces, not violence against civilians, which has traditionally sparked protests. Further, the protests were set off by the death of a militant at the hands of the security forces, not violence against civilians, which has traditionally prompted protests.
The last civilian uprising that engulfed the Kashmir valley took place in 2010, after a teenage boy was struck by a tear-gas canister and killed in Srinagar. Stone-throwing protesters filled the streets for months, and clashes with security forces left more than 100 people dead. A series of curfews was put in place across the region. The last major civilian uprising that engulfed the Kashmir valley took place in 2010, after a teenage boy was struck by a tear-gas canister and killed in Srinagar. Stone-throwing protesters filled the streets for months, and clashes with security forces left more than 100 people dead. A series of curfews was put in place across the region.
Since then, isolated protests against security forces have continued, but in recent months, those protests have changed, say observers and security officers. Protesters have begun to come out in greater numbers after the deaths of foreign militants, for example, and have been appearing at the sites of police shootouts with militants.Since then, isolated protests against security forces have continued, but in recent months, those protests have changed, say observers and security officers. Protesters have begun to come out in greater numbers after the deaths of foreign militants, for example, and have been appearing at the sites of police shootouts with militants.
Gull Mohammad Wani, a professor of political science at the University of Kashmir, said the alienation among many Kashmiris had been festering because of a lack of engagement by state and national politicians in the long-running political crisis in Kashmir.Gull Mohammad Wani, a professor of political science at the University of Kashmir, said the alienation among many Kashmiris had been festering because of a lack of engagement by state and national politicians in the long-running political crisis in Kashmir.
A polarized atmosphere in India under the government of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi, he said, has not helped. Last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party formed a government in Jammu and Kashmir State, which he called “a very uneasy type of coalition” that did little to calm the region.A polarized atmosphere in India under the government of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi, he said, has not helped. Last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party formed a government in Jammu and Kashmir State, which he called “a very uneasy type of coalition” that did little to calm the region.
There has been a constant cry from protesters in Kashmir throughout the decades: azadi, or freedom. Since the late 1980s, when the militancy was born, the azadi cry has been heard on the streets whenever there has been a protest. Recently, it appears to connote as much a feeling of rebellion against a security apparatus seen as operating with an unnecessarily heavy hand, as a concrete demand for nationhood. There has been a constant cry from protesters in Kashmir throughout the decades: azadi, or freedom. Since the late 1980s, when the militancy was born, the azadi cry has been heard on the streets whenever there has been a protest. Recently, it appears to connote as much a feeling of rebellion against a security apparatus seen as operating with an unnecessarily heavy hand, as a concrete demand for nationhood. People are always “looking for an opportunity to come out and waiting for the leadership to announce a call,” said Khurram Parvez, a human-rights activist. “People are waiting for an opportunity to express themselves.”
People are always “looking for an opportunity to come out and waiting for the leadership to announce a call,” said Khurram Parvez, a human-rights activist. “People are waiting for an opportunity to express themselves.”