Author:
Publication: The Organiser
Date: February 25, 2001
Introduction: After Sikhs, 15 Gujjar-Bakerwals
killed in Valley
Close on the heels of massacre
of six Sikhs at Mahjoor Nagar in Srinagar, the horrible incident of burning
alive 15 members of three families of Gujjar Bakerwal b y the Pakistan-sponsored
terrorists have put the advocates of jehad in Kashmir in a tight spot.
The 15 persons of Gujjar-Bakerwal
families of village Kot- Chatwal including seven children, three women
and five men were burnt alive by setting ablaze their houses on the night
of February 9, 2001.
As usual the terrorists committed
this henious crime by accusing them as being informers of the security
forces. But there are reports that these Gujjar-Bakerwals had declined
to go by dictates of the foreign mercenaries to provide them shelter and
food as also to provide them information about the movement of the Indian
forces. But this was not the first incident of its kind. In the past too,
the terrorists to establish their domination in the remote areas had been
indulging in various types of cruelties.
Significantly, this time also like
many in the past, the crime against humanity was committed on Friday. There
had been over 30 major incidents of massacres in the past years in which
about 300 persons were brutally killed. At least 20 of these occurred on
Fridays, although for the believers of Islam, Friday is the big day for
prayers and for peace and harmony.
Whatever may be the reasons for
committing these killings, both these happenings have met with severe condemnation
of the jehadis. Finding little escape routes, even, the supporters of terrorism
have had to condemn these incidents.
Interestingly, like in the past,
this time too, the electronic media of Pakistan and upper ground apparatus
of the ISI-designed terrorism are trying their hard to shift the blame
on the Indian agencies. But the local people in both these incidents have
sharply reacted against the massacres by holding anti-Pakistan demonstrations
at different places.
In the case of Kot-Chatwal the Muslim
villagers were though shocked but were not scared. They demonstrated their
determination to stand for India and fight out the evil designs of the
enemy when the State Governor, Shri G.C. Saxena alongwith the Chief Minister,
Dr Farooq Abdullah visited the village of Kot-Chatwal.
Instead of demanding any relief
or cash assistance, the brave Gujjar-Bakerwals made the only request for
providing them the weapons to fight out the terrorists who are making hell
of the life for the villagers.
Many organisations including the
National Conference, Congress, BJP, RSS, VHP and others have severely condemned
both the incidents of massacres of Sikhs and Gujjar-Bakerwals.
It is being construed that while
the killings of the Sikhs in Kashmir was aimed at forcing the minorities
whatever have left in the Valley, out, the massacre of Gujjar-Bakerwals
was to have the objective of establishing the domination of the foreign
mercenaries who in the name of jehad, are trying hard to scare the people
of the remote areas for having safe-hideouts.
There has been a large increase
in the number of terrorists especially those of foreign mercenaries during
the past over two months in wake of the unilateral ceasefire announced
by the Central Government.
According to an estimate the number
of armed terrorists in the State in October last, which was about 3500
including about 1400 in Jammu areas and 2000 in the Valley, has now gone
up to about 5000.
In certain areas the increase is
as high as 50 per cent and in other areas it is about 25 per cent. The
number of terrorists has swelled mostly in Poonch-Rajouri and Kupwara areas
of Kashmir Valley.
According to rough estimates the
number of terrorists in Poonch-Rajouri districts, which was about 475 to
500 in October last, has now gone up to over 700. The major concentration
is in Drahal and Dudasan areas.
In Banihal areas this increase is
about 30 per cent. In October last the number of terrorists in this area
was about 150 but it is about 200 now. Similarly in other areas too, the
number of terrorists has increased as there was fresh infiltration.
The new-comers during the past over
two months are mostly, foreign mercenaries from Afghanistan and Sudan in
addition to persons from Pakistan and Pak-Occupied Kashmir. There are certain
locals also but they are being used as load-carriers and guides in most
cases.
Taking advantage of the ceasefire
and giving up of seek-and-destroy operations by the security forces, the
terrorists have developed several new hide-outs and at some strategic places
on the bills, it is said, these terrorists have constructed even bunkers
and trenches.
Several new weapons of high caliber
have also been smuggled. The people of the State in general, who were overjoyed
at the time of unilateral ceasefire, are now very much perturbed particularly
over the increased terrorist activities and swelling of the numbers of
the foreign mercenaries.
In the first place these terrorists
are indulging in many crimes such as rapes, extortions and terrorising
the people. Secondly, there is a growing feeling amongst the people that
with the increasing number of the terrorists in their areas, there could
be clashes between the terrorists and the security forces, in which the
ultimate sufferers would be the innocent civilians as they would have to
face guns from both side.
