Gym or Grave?

Yet another kid has been killed today. Yet another life lost. One more family bereaved. One more father sent quizzing to his son`s grave. One more mother losing the sight of her eyes, the pace of her heart, the grace of her life. A 2o year old (young) kid, Asrar beheaded after remaining elusive for more than 3 days. They say he left for his gym on a bike and never returned home! I wonder how his family and friends would be coping with that. Allah give them the courage to bear his loss.

It needs to certificates to say that it is nothing new in Kashmir. In fact it has become so customary that many people do not flinch any eye when they hear a news as infernal as this. However, we ask, why? Why does human life attract no value in Kashmir? Why does it go so cheap? Why blood has lost its value, spilled at every other square meter. WHY?????

 

One wonders who is resposible for this cowardice. But whoever it is, he will have to face his deeds, here or there!

Night Clubs! Is he serious?

Cheif Minister Omar Abduallah wants to open Night clubs in Kashmir. This, supposedly to make Kashmir linger in the memories of the tourists. Although there is nothing wrong with what he wants to achieve but little seems to be right with how he wants it! I mean what next, are we supposed to wear western outfits to make them feel at home. It is surprising how many times I have said this sentence in the past few months but folks… Tourists come to Kashmir for what it is, not for what we are making it. We need to preserve our culture and tradition and heritage, not try to become those who visit us. After all, we can`t become everyone who comes here!s

Not anymore!

Barely a month into the tragic incident at Shopian, the lightening struck again. This time in the south of Srinagar in the vicinity of Soura. One more molestation bid, this time foiled, fortunately. 

It was only after the girls started beating a up the CRPF trooper, that people assembled and foiled the bid. What one wonders at this point is, whether there has been a sudden rise in incidents like this in the valley? The answer is, no. If anything has risen, it is the level of courage that the public is displaying. I am pretty sure, two to three years ago an incident like this would easily have  died at once. But, today, today is different. People are no more afraid of anything. They have had too much. Too much oppression. Too many tears to wipe. Too much blood to drink. Now they want an end to it. If nobody else does it, they will do it themselves, on their own small scale, in their own small way. Try beat that!

Service Selection Board Challenge!

How is this for a lingo – 4 years into submission of forms for the posts in telecommunication wing of J&K police, the candidates still haven`t heard anything from the Services Selection board. This is mighty close to being propelled to Guinness Book of World Records – the biggest, or should I say the most miserable lingo ever.However I suspect there might be several other instances when the J&K SSB have beaten this record – those that are unheard and untold, swept under the carpet and into the drain, never shown the light of the day. And why not, this is the least the SSB can do for it`s candidates.

Abnormal – Kashmir!

Ever since Omar Abduallah came to power in Jammu and Kashmir, things have started to happen. In a place like Kashmir this is nothing less than terrific. A place where the most trivial of a document takes months to get throught, this indeed is special. As far down the memory lane as I can go,I can`t find an instance when the Roads and Buildings wing has been in such ‘planned frenzy’. Wherever you go today, roads are being tended to. This has to be a miracle of some sort or of course I might be dreaming. But no it is happening. Some one month ago, a rupees 60 crore fund for reconstruction of roads was passed. I suspect half of that must have been spent by now – pardon my over enthusiasm. But certainly things look better. Let us hope that the same development seeps into other sectors of our state as well, sectors that have remained in a lingo for a long long time now! 

Taking nothing away from the current regime, I wonder how ineffective the previous governments must have been – which could not give us at least a good network of roads.

Justice Chained in Shopian… Find the keys!

On the fateful evening of May 29, a 21 year old pregnant girl accompanied by her 16 year old sister-in-law left their home for a nearby orchard. They never returned! However their withered bodies did, as if attacked by ware wolves, found lying in a nearby stream the following morning, raped and killed. Circumastancial evidence pointing the compass at the so called ‘security forces’. Heavy army and police presence nearby the orchard, red powder (sindoor)  in the hair- hindu ritual of diffrentiation between married and unmarried woman- of the victims and their cries being heard out of a security vehicle leave nothing to be guessed. Utterly bizzare though – one month into the tragedy nothing concrete has been achieved.  The perpetrators, looming out there, have not as much as been touched. Why? Was it a hard case to break? No. Was there not sufficient evidence? Yes, there was. Is the law enforcing machinery not capable of bringing justice to the family of the victims; the husband who not only lost his sister and dear wife but the baby that she carried in her womb as well, the mother who lost her daughter-in-law and her daughter. Everything is exaclty as it should be, except for the desire to send the criminals behind bars!

Kashmir has been simmering ever since. The last month has witnessed unending strikes and unabating cries. All for nothing. Not at all. Let the world know that Human Rights in Kashmir are at their miserable worst. Let us stand together at this time and many such that may come (Allah Forbid). For letting go of our respect for a mere peice of bread should not be the matter we are made up of.

Justice be delivered to the vicitms of Shopian double rape and murder case.. all we desire!!!!