Prof Javed Mughal
This year opened with a major decision of our Government regarding the removal of paramilitary forces from Jammu and Kashmir and a proposal of the state Govt to the Union Home Ministry for raising 50 more Police Battalions for deployment in militancy infested areas across the state. It was followed by the establishment of three more police stations on 2nd of January 2012 in view of the situation erupted as a result of inflammatory and obscene postings on some social networking sites. On 13th of January the Progress Monitoring Report regarding the implementation of Reconstruction Plan reported that 31 out of 67 projects sanctioned for the state were completed and rest were also assured to be going on war footing. This announcement, of-course, supplied a healing touch to the masses.
In the month of February on 7th, APHC as usual gave a call to shut down all business installations across the valley and strike all other works of organisation and schools. Mr Geelani, this time also, used the same gimmick to hijack the innocence of Kashmir to feather his nest and succeeded also since the normal life, all along the entire Valley, remained paralysed. Impacted by this outburst of popular ire in the valley and for a couple of other security reasons, the Chief of Army Staff Mr V. K. Singh visited Northern Command Hqtrs and reviewed the J&K security situation. During his visit, as a reaction, the militants killed a sarpach and an NC worker in Kulgam confirming the security lapses in the Valley. Subsequently, just a couple of days later, five police cops were injured in clashes with subversive elements in Maisuma area of Srinagar as a reaction to the arrest of Yasin Malik, the Chairman of JKLF. The ever unfortunate part of Kashmiri destiny has been their all-time sacrifice for those who were never serious about their people who put them on the track to disaster and propelled them into the abyss of nothingness. As a soothing shift from this heart-rending atmosphere, the Union Governemnt on 17th of February 2012, approved a grant of INR 499 crores for the upgradation of weaponry to track down militants and criminals; for the modernisation of Police Training Centers and Police Stations etc. The MHA approved INR 461 Crores while the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy sanctioned a grant of INR 37.93 crores for JKP. The Govt. Also de-inducted three CRPF Battalions and removed CPMFs bunkars from Srinagar. Although it was a step to normalise the situation for Kashmiris but as a matter of fact it added to the deterioration of the peace and security in the valley since we did so a little earlier.
The revelation of the Chief Minister of our state Mr Omar pertaining to loss of 36000 lives during two decades of upsurge in the valley leaving 26000 orphans and 8000 widows behind moved many human into despair. The point of concern is that this entire bloody dance happened on the soil termed as the paradise on earth by Emperor Jehangir “Agar Firdous Ba-ru-e-Zameen ast: Hamein ast o haemin ast o haemin ast.”
The worst did not end here but went a step further to let an amount of 121000 crore hawala money be confiscated in Rajouri District on the behest of some anti-national element from behind the bar. This incident left an indelible stigma on the image of this region which was known as an abode of peace and harmony for centuries together. This incident shattered the very foundation the centuries-old legacy of patriotism of this area. Rajouri and Zanskar were hit by the outburst of law and order problem disturbing the areas for couple of days together. Another rude jolt rendered to the Kashmiri sentiments was the gutting down of the 200 year old shrine in Srinagar on 25th of June 2012. It sent across a galvanic shock through the spine of one and all irrespective of religions and regions. The entire Kashmir remained under duress for quite a long time after this obnoxious incident had taken place. This sinister chapter was added to the history of this state and equally heart-rending was the catastrophe which claimed more than 100 devotees at Amarnath due to the inadequate arrangements for them. Taking serious note of this situation, the Hon’ble Supreme Court gave detailed judgement for future management of the yatra and the widening of route to the Shrine.
Worst ever incident in the annals of J&K Police History took place when, on 15th of June 2012, a sleuth of Intelligence personnel was detained for having links with the militants. This black-happening left a question mark on the sanctity and integrity of our defence mechanism. Just a fortnight later, the CM gave a nod to PRA which had had been hanging fire for the last over three years and directed the Home Department to put it on the departmental website. Another mind boggling and eye-opening secret came out in the open when, a tunnel from POK side into Indian Territory was discovered by BSF in forward village Chechwal in Rajpura area along the IB in Samba sector by the Indian BSF. This episode left an question mark on our image and compelled us to revise our strategy. The BSF decided to approach ISRO to measure the length of the tunnel. Defence Minister A.K. Antony viewed the matter seriously and impressed upon Indian Army to rejuvenate itself. One day prior to Independence Day, The UMHA sounded high alert in J&K Airports in response to the report of intelligence that 14 militants of LET were plotting to hijack an aircraft to get their accomplices released from the Indian prisons. This was the year of traffic accidents. A good number of people lost their lives in road accidents. High flow of tourists was another highlight of the year. Several high profile personalities including President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited the State. The entire year 2012 witnessed the continual firing from Pakistan especially in Samba sector.
On 28th August 2012, a massive operation was launched by the SFs in the Wullar Lake and in adjoining areas. Apart from it, Security Forces unearthed a militant hideout and seized a cache of arms and ammunition from Kishtwar. On Independence Day, Mr Umar Abdullah assured the people of J&K of considerable downfall in the graph of militancy with the mention of 370 incidents in 2010, 190 in 2011 & 90 in 2012. The President Pranab Mukherji remained on three-day tour in J&K state from 26th September 2012. Mr. Rahul Gandhi was on two-day visit to J&K along with India’s bigwigs like Rattan Tata & Kumar Mangalam Birla. Nearly 900 Sarpanchs resigned at different spells of time under the threat of militants in Kashmir as admitted by the CM on 18th of September 2012 but their resignations were not entertained. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, in the month of September 2012, welcoming the willingness expressed by the APHC-M chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq for resuming stalled dialogue process with the Centre, snubbed APHC-G led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani by saying that the Centre will not beg of them for talks. But it cut no ice with the Mr Geelani. The matter of grave concern which threatened the very democratic temperament of this country is that the CM of J&K out-rightly rejected the implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments of Indian Constitution empowering Panchayats in the State. Somewhere at the end of November a UMHA report said that as many as 90 Pakistani infiltrators had managed to enter India through the Indo-Pak border in year 2012 (till November 20). The report further said that 63 Pakistani infiltrators had already entered into India in 2011, 94 Pakistani infiltrated into India in 2010 and 69 in 2009 through the Indo-Pak border. The Year 2012 furled its wings with last flap of election of four MLCs in all over the state in coalition partnership of NC-Congress and all the four seats with two-two partnership were bagged by the coalition.
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