Recently a 9-year old Muskan got stuck in concertina wire laid around a paramilitary CRPF bunker at Wazir Bagh in Civil Lines area of the city. The poor child got nine stitches on her head but luckily she survived.
Concertina wires around bunkers are a common sight across the Valley. In past twenty years many people, including children, have got stuck in concertina wires. Only a few incidents till date have been reported but many have gone unreported.
Forces deployed in the Valley claim that they are here for the security of people. But their actions in the past 20-years have proved that they are least bothered about the security of the common man. They first ensure that they remain secure and for this they have build huge bunkers around which concertina wires have been laid. It has been observed that a pack of dogs guards a bunker, threatening the pedestrian’s life. Muskan too was chased by the dogs, terrified the child ran for safety and got stuck in the concertina wire. Somehow dogs didn’t bite her but she underwent a trauma, which she won’t be able to overcome for her entire life. 
One fails to understand why life for common Kashmiris is so difficult? Why people are not allowed to breathe freely? Has life been made miserable with a purpose?
It seems New Delhi doesn’t want to take a chance and wants people to realize that they rebelling against the state in 1990 was the biggest mistake they committed. Despite violence levels receding not much has changed for a common man. Gun totting force personnel watching him has become a routine.New Delhi’s strategy is clear that war is on, and people have to face the brunt.
One feels pity for children like Muskan, who are bearing the consequences of what happened two decades ago. These kids were born much after the guns had stopped roaring in the Valley. Despite these children having no role in the conflict they have become victims of the conflict.
On one hand government claims that efforts are on to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and situation is being made conducive for it. If the situation has improved and AFSPA is on its way out then what is the need for bunkers and concertina wires?
Much hype was created about removing a few bunkers from the city but not much headway was made. In the recent past top brass of police and other forces have declared normalcy on many occasions but the fact is that ground situation is still grim.
One wonders when would the ground situation change and when the normalcy would really return. Till then children like Muskan and others would fall victims to concertina wires and the dogs which force personnel have nurtured for their own security.
Kashmiris seem to be destined to live a life which is full of threats and hardships. Kids and children who walk past a CRPF bunker often ask their parents what is the role of gun totting youth. Parents quiet often ignore their questions and somehow divert their attention, but when incidents like Muskan getting stuck in concertina wire come to fore all of us realize that we too have got kids and how vulnerable they are.
People who claim to be elected representatives of masses just act as mute spectators. Innocent Muskan getting stuck did not have any impact on the mainstream politicians; none of them bothered to even issue a statement, nor did they have any guts to seek an explanation from the CRPF about the incident.
Kashmiris need to realize that they themselves have to act as protectors of their children to save them from dogs and the big bunkers which are in place to protect people.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST