But the politicians are missing in action.
Young men carry AK-47s to the funerals of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists and give rifle salutes. On other days, they pelt stones at security forces.
The word sang in Kashmiri means stone. The streets in the valley are scattered with stones. This is where the sangbaaz (stone pelters) spend day and night venting their anger and frustration. With or without their knowledge, they are being funded and used by inimical forces in Pakistan.
On April 9, a man was tied to an Army jeep and driven to a polling booth in Budgam to rescue policemen and ITBP troops, who were trapped inside, from a mob of stone pelters waiting outside. Another video surfaced soon after, showing Kashmiri youth beating up armed CRPF troops. No shots were fired in either case. Looking at these videos,one cannot help but wonder where the political leadership of J&K is.
“Today, the forces have become toothless and an object of humiliation. The government needs to find a political solution to the problem. It cannot put the forces in jeopardy. Policing, by nature, is a repressive act. I am not saying whether the action of the Army was right or wrong, but I feel the government needs to do its job first,” former CRPF director general Dilip Trivedi told THE WEEK.
The coalition of the Peoples Democratic Party and the BJP came to power in the state in early 2015. Sadly, many months have passed since elected representatives either from the Centre or from the state government were seen on these streets, where stones have been flying; striking everyone, but them.
Those driving the Kashmir policy from New Delhi are missing in action. Prime Minister Narendra Modi,who inaugurated the tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on April 2, addressed a public rally ahead of the byelections in an attempt to reach out to the people. But it was too little, too late
This story is from the April 30, 2017 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 30, 2017 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
There Is A Wind Blowing Against The BJP, And It Will Only Pick Up Speed
Interview - Akhilesh Yadav, Former Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh
Between hospital and home
Transitional care centres can add a lot to India's health care system
EFFORT VS EFFECT
The government's attempts to ensure quality drugs is evident, but how well new policies can be monitored on the ground remains to be seen
A way to let go of fear
Accepting the use of adult diapers is a journey with various stages-denial, concealment, rejection and reluctance
Mandeeps & a miracle
Two strangers, one deadly disease and an act of kindness. How Mandeep Mann saved Mandeep Singh, an acute leukaemia patient, by donating his stem cells
The A, B, C of cosmetic surgery
Between eight to 10 lakh cosmetic surgeries happen in India every year. Who is an ideal candidate, and what are the risks and results you can expect?
Vaccines and meningitis
In sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and encompassing the northern part of Nigeria, there exists a region known as the African Meningitis Belt (AMB).
Celebrating diversity and inclusivity
As Indians battle it out in our nation's 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the \"Idea of India\"-or rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box.
Defendant: an Hermès handbag
When Hermès was hit with a class-action lawsuit last month for \"antitrust\" activities, it didn't see it coming. Most of the luxury world has all eyes on this suit, filed by two interested consumers who claim they were denied a purchase, and whether it would go to trial.
A legacy, bound
Amal Allana's biography of her father, Ebrahim Alkazi, is as much personal as it is historical