Time, as usual, has once again ticked for this year to furl its wings. The year has sped along, stopping briefly at beloved halts and moving sadly on. Prof Javed Mughal recounts the momentous moments from the beginining of year to its end.
Hardly six days of this year had passed and the hang-over of the new year was not fully over when ominous news of LOC violation by Pakistan on 7th of January was in the air. In continuation of Pakistan’s violation LOC, on 8th January 2013, some Pakistani troops sneaked into Indian Territory and beheaded two Indian Army Jawans which invited the nation’s wrath. Almost every nook and corner protested, the political clot voiced against it and Army echelon flamed up against this barbarous act of Pakistan.
The month of February is also dotted with big and small insipid incidents of sabotage and subversion in the state. Afzal Guru’s death sentence on February 9, 2013 ignited the fire of widespread violence across the entire Kashmir. People came out in the streets and the hardliners who were in hibernation for a long time had a chance to revive them once again. Geelani gave a clarion to one and all in the Valley to make protests publicly defying the law and order. J&K Government on 17th of February 2013 decided to set up a State Security Commission headed by the Chief Minister to review security scenario in the State and frame the policy guidelines under the proposed J&K Police Bill 2013.
However the Bill even after so much discussion could not become a reality. The disheartening incident of 22th of June 2013 in which eight Army Jawans were killed and 11 others were injured in a fidayeen attack in Hyderpora Kashmir shocked the entire country. In an ugly incident wherein a BSF trooper and 14 Police constables, with a killing also, were injured at Dharam in Gool-Sangaldan area of Ramban District in a clash between a group of ‘protesters’ and the BSF. The mob was protesting against alleged desecration of holy book by the Security Force personnels at Dharam. It disturbed the situation in Rajouri, Doda and Bhaderwah but failed to instigate Kishtwar. Later on, when the rumurs about the reason behind this melodrama subsided and reality was leaked out, the entire drama was the handiwork of some egocentric elements and the killings were also the result of their mutual tussle. Whatever was the logic behind the Gool-Sangaldaan melodramatic episode but off-course it opened another black chapter in the history of the state. Kishtwar which always pulsated in a single unison and solidarity burned in the flames of communal tension and that too on the day of Idd Festival-the moment when love and affection is shared among one and all. Three people lost their lives in the incident. This incident sparted animated debate in Parliament.
General V. K Singh’s revelations that the Army had let out some money to the political mechanism in J & K State led to a great pandemonium on the floor of House resounding with the loud blames by opposition. Although General Singh made all out efforts to pacify the situation and convince the interrogative chambers with the plea that the money was sub-let to some ministers of the ruling party not a as bribe but to work on the ground to wean away the common masses from the separatists groups. It was in fact an attempt to purchase the good will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. General Singh refused to disclose the names of the Ministers who received this money. The Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir took the matter very seriously despite the fact the General Singh was on their defence. Under the pressure of the opposition, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution to summon General V.K Singh to explain the facts in details but nothing happened. In the meantime on 3rd of Nov. 2013.
After some years gap, Jammu witnessed a Fidayeen attack when Pakistan based militant after crossing LoC, attacked a police post at Kathua killing four policemen on duty. Later on Fidayeen attacked a Army camp at Samba killing 4 army personnel, including Lt Col Bikramjit Singh on the spot. The three militants were also then eliminated. Two civilian also became a casualty.
In Kargil, polls were held for Ladakh Autonomous Council, in which Asgar Ali Karbalaie led Congress party returned to the office LAHDC, Kargil after defeating National Conference.
It was not a smooth transfer of power, as NC tried to grab the office once again by playing dirty political games. The year, like previous years, witnessed a number of horrible road accidents in which many people lost their lives. The hilly areas like Kishtwar and Doda suffered the most.
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narender Modi held a big rally in Jammu. He showed his power of attracting crowds when more than one lakh people turned up for his rally. A show never witnessed before. This year the border areas of Jammu province came under heavy attack from Pakistan forces. The Pak troops violated cease fire violations continuously for days together, with the result the border people bore the brunt. They had to leave their native places for safety. There was precious loss of life and property. Many people got maimed in these attacks leaving a permanent scar on their life. To assess the situation, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde dashed to Jammu. He interacted with Jawans and boosted their morale.
The event that also generated contoversy was the Zubin Mehta’s music show Ehsaas-e-Kashmir. This show was conducted in the salubrious environs of Zabarwan Hills in Nishat Bagh. Another show Haqeet-e-Kashmir was held in opposition to it.
The Indian Army had a face off with Chinese troops when they a contingent of them entered Daulat Baig Oldi sector in Ladakh and pitched tents there. The tension diffused only after the countries held a dialogue over the issue.
It was for the first time that Amarnath Yatra was conducted as per Supreme Court guidelines. There was no controversy this year over the duration of Yatra. It passed off peacefully with less number of casualties. The Vaishno Devi yatra witnessed a low turn out this year as a fall out of Uttrakhand cloudburst tragedy. In order to provide dacilities to pilgrims, Government constituted Sukrala Mata Shrine Board. The Judiciary in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an eventful year, with the High Court becoming quite active this year. A number of landmark judgements were passed. The Judiciary was quite active in cases pertaining to corruption. Even in Judiciary, three Session Judges were removed on grounds of being deadwood. The Secretariat Complex witnessed two ugly incidents. One in which a portion of Srinagar Secretariat caught fire and damaged records. In another incident, a portion of Jammu Assembly Hall collapsed due to construction work near it.
Sarpanches hogged the limelight for a number of reasons. They were threatened time and again by miliants to quit the office. At times they were seen protesting against non implementation of 73rd amendment. Besides, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally of Panchs and Sarpanchs in Jammu. The coalition partners National Conference and Congress were at logger heads over the 73rd amendment. Floods wreaked havoc in Jammu province causing irreparable loss of men and material.
Thus the Year 2013 which started with the bad taste ended in a better way
Follow our WhatsApp channel
