The fragile peace in the Valley seems to be collapsing as events of the past few days have created uncertainty and sense of insecurity among the people. Resentment against the stern measures taken by the authorities to enforce peace and a few cases of human rights violations, including the custodial killing of a Sopore youth, seem to be leading towards yet another face-off between the government and the people.
A few incidents of stone pelting once again coming to fore may not have unnerved the security agencies but these have definitely put them on alert. Police have already started rounding up the youth, whom it claims are involved in stone pelting.
Authorities are ensuring that separatist leaders don’t get any room. They are being frequently placed under house arrest and whenever they are set free their every move is monitored. One fails to understand why life in Kashmir Valley has become so difficult. Why cannot Kashmiris be allowed to live a normal life?
To add to the woes of people security ahead of August 15 has been beefed up. As soon as the dusk sets in gun wielding paramilitary CRPF men take control of the Srinagar streets especially of the areas around Bakshi Stadium, venue for the grand function of the I-Day parade in Srinagar. They stop vehicles, frisk pedestrians and suspect everyone. If militancy graph has declined and there is no presence of militants in the City as most top officials often claim and boast then why this panic? Cannot they allow common man to move freely after offering Taraweeh prayers in this holy month of Ramadan?
Even if they have to frisk people can’t they be a bit polite? It seems someone needs to tell these people that disciplined forces are always polite and do understand the human values. They cannot act like dictators on the roads and treat people shabbily. They need to be reminded that they get their salaries from the tax a common man pays and they have no right to humiliate him.
Point is who will tell them? They at times even don’t listen to their seniors. Even if these issues are brought into the notice of top officials they just take it lightly saying, “They are jawans and they just follow orders. Such things should be taken lightly by the residents of conflict zone.” Oh what an answer!
A common man believes that people who run the Government are superior to him, as they know how to set things right. But the fact is that they wait for things to go out of hand before setting them right. It seems people at the helm of affairs are totally unaware about the ground situation. It seems no one tells them how their men behave on streets and how do they terrify unarmed civilians on the pretext of security check. They come to know about it if and when something untoward happens.
If people holding the top positions continue to remain confined to their cozy chambers the day is not far when they will get a yet another shock like 2010. One can understand that maintaining law and order is government’s priority but that does not mean that its men in uniform would terrify people to ensure that nothing happens. There is a limit to everything and if that ends people would be left with no other choice other than taking to streets and staging protest and if these turn violent one killing is enough to trigger another saga of protests, which Valley witnessed from 2008 to 2010. People at helm need to wake up and prevent situation from taking an ugly turn. 
It seems leaders in New Delhi are under the impression that they can establish peace in the Valley by giving unbridled powers to forces. If it is so then they are living in a fool’s paradise. History stands testimony to the fact that use of excessive force against people in any part of the world has had far reaching consequences. Had repression been the only way no dictator would have been ousted from power till date. They would have continued to rule without any problems.
The beauty of democracy is that everybody has a right to live a dignified life. Repression always leads to a rebellion. People who are at the helm claim that they are elected representatives of the masses. If it is true then why are they so indifferent towards their own people? Why cannot the feel the pain of the common man who voted them to power. How long will they rely on batons to rule the people? Why do not they make an effort to win the hearts and minds of people by making their forces more accountable?
One fails to understand that why no one from the Government comes forward and assures people that there is nothing to worry. Why they have to rely on the men in uniform to convey their message to their own people?
People of Kashmir need an assurance that no one irrespective of who he is would be allowed to establish his writ. They need to be told that they are free and can carry on with their normal lives without any fear. Youth need an assurance that no one would touch them if they are innocent. Feedback....malikjavaid123@gmail.com

Lastupdate on : Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST