The 2nd martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Muzaffar Wani the most cherished militant commander of Kashmir’s armed struggle was observed on both sides of the line of control with a pledge to take the martyrs’ mission to its logical end. Strict restrictions were imposed all across valley to thwart any rally announced by joint Resistance Leadership (JRL). The occupation authorities have put severe restrictions in sensitive areas of Srinagar, south Kashmir and other parts of the valley. All the business establishments and shops remain closed in view of the call given by JRL leadership, whereas curfew was imposed in Tral the home town of Wani. The graveyard of Wani and his residence at Shariefabad was sealed by Indian forces. Mobile Internet services were also suspended throughout the Valley while the speed of fixed line broadband connections was slashed.
In this connection, protest rallies, symposiums and seminar were held in AJK to pay homage to the supreme sacrifices rendered by Wani and his colleagues who gave a new direction to ongoing resistance movement. Wani the icon of Kashmiris’ resistance against Indian occupation was gunned down in a gun-battle at a village near South Kashmir’s famous tourist destination Kokernag on 8 July 2016. Soon after his martyrdom Kashmir erupted with protests and six-month long strikes in the valley. During six months of protests hundreds of civilians were killed while 10,000 got injured by the use of excessive force by Indian military and para-military troops in the region. His martyrdom proved as a catalyst to political outrage, seething anger and alienation, which ultimately led to a state-wide Intifada against oppressive Indian state. The new phase of resistance that came to fore after July 8 2016 incident had left Indian state completely baffled despite the fact that it used its hard power to crush the mass uprising.
Wani’s martyrdom had galvanized the movement in such a way that people were no longer scare of death, pellets and bullets. This new emerging factor of resilience amongst the common masses has led to an unprecedented movement that had actually shaken New Delhi’s political and military establishment. The second important factor of the resistance notably was that highly qualified youth including doctors, engineers and intellectuals and even IT experts have joined resistance ranks during the past couple of years and this rising trend may probably take even a dangerous turn if concerted efforts were not taken to address the root cause of the problem. What are the reasons behind the violence and mass agitation in Kashmir? At least, Indians know it fully well but the rulers sitting in New Delhi have been deliberately pushing Kashmiri youth to wall compelling them to take extreme step thereby promoting a culture of violence. They want to maintain status-quo that on one hand has suffocated millions of Kashmiris while on the other this approach has led to death and destruction in the region. But even more disturbing part of this whole saga is that international community is reluctant to realize the Kashmir’s new reality, which is disturbing and highly alarming. The fact is that the reckless bloodshed in Kashmir will go on unabated until and unless the legacy of partition continues to fester the situation in the region. It is time that India realizes the reality that genuine freedom movements cannot be suppressed by killing, maiming and blinding people. Burhan they killed two years ago is still alive in the hearts and minds of people of Kashmir. Today every Kashmiri is ready to die for his mission. His legacy will live on, since then hundreds of Burhans have sacrificed their lives for the cause but the question arises as how many Burhans will India kill, every house will give birth to one, this is the reality which New Delhi needs to realize.
