Despite Claims To The Contrary, All’s Still Not Well In Kashmir

Despite innumerable claims of ‘normalcy’ by multiple news channels in New Delhi, the situation on the ground in Kashmir Valley remains unchanged.

Despite innumerable claims of ‘normalcy’ by multiple news channels in New Delhi, the situation on the ground in Kashmir Valley remains unchanged. All phone lines, except landlines, remain out of service, the shutdown continues, all the markets and schools remain closed, and most of the political leadership continues to remain in detention.

Even bureaucrats and police officers are not sending their children to school in the absence of communication facilities.

The public protest has gone beyond the street and stone pelting this time and turned into a defiant, civil disobedience movement. The Hurriyat Conference — most of its frontline and second line leadership behind bars and under house arrest — is out of the picture. Despite lifting of some restrictions, people have refused to resume normal life.

Most of the daily purchases for essentials are done in the early mornings, from 6—9 AM when the markets close and shutters come down for the remaining day, only to resume in the evening for a few more hours. Public transport continues to be off the roads.

Only private vehicles ply on the roads during the day.

Concertina wire continues to block several important roads and junctions in the city. Many more checkpoints and sandbag bunkers of CRPF personnel have been established across the city since August 5. More army and CRPF camps and bunkers have come up across the Valley to house thousands of additional troops brought in the weeks before revocation of Article 370 on August 5. Even educational institutions, including colleges are presently occupied by troops. And reports suggest that soldiers are spreading out in residential areas, occupying high-rise buildings and houses strategically placed, ostensibly on rent. House owners cannot refuse letting out their houses to security forces.