Author: M Saleem Pandit
Publication: The Times of India
Date: April 26, 2005
URL: http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1088822.cms
They may clamour for independence
and think the Indian state draconian, one that has perpetuated control
over Kashmir through its military might.
But when it comes to availing of
resources of that state for their personal security and convenience, separatist
leaders in Kashmir are very much Indian subjects, that too chosen ones
who feel they even have a right to its misuse.
Living in palatial houses in upmarket
colonies, protected by security personnel armed with lethal weapons, driving
around in bulletproof cars with a red beacon flashing atop which they are
not allowed to use, theirs is a life which seems much at odds with the
cause they espouse.
The offices they operate from are
no camps that "freedom fighters" would identify with.
Located in posh residential colonies
of Srinagar, these were purchased at throwaway prices - remember the mass
exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley - or have been taken on rent.
Even the woman separatist group,
Muslim Khawateen Markaz, works from a place as posh as Raj Bagh.
Moderate or radical they may be,
but as far as their offices are concerned, the Hurriyat factions have the
same taste.
The moderates function from a splendid
house at Raj Bagh - sources say it was purchased for anything between Rs
10 to 14 lakh, its market price today is close to Rs 50 lakh - while Syed
Ali Shah Geelani stokes his fundamentalist fire from a sprawling structure
not very far away.
Like at work, like at home. These
leaders may hail from villages in north and south Kashmir, but today they
are part of the urban elite, with residences in Sanatnagar, Hyderpora,
Raj Bagh and Gojibagh in the capital.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani's house at
Peer Bagh on Indira Gandhi airport road is conspicuous even from a distance,
as is his party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat's flag fluttering atop the structure,
whose resemblance to the Pakistani flag is no coincidence.
Shabir Shah of the Democratic Freedom
Party, who migrated from Anantnag to Srinagar after the outbreak of militancy,
had initially acquired two houses in the Rawalpora area - where high court
judges, bureaucrats and top police officials live - selling one of them
later.
The Jammu and Kashmir government
had in 1988 banned use of beacon lights on vehicles and flags denoting
affiliations, but for ministers and the chief secretary.
A ban was also imposed on air horns,
besides tinted windows that allowed for less than 70 per cent transparency.
A senior traffic official admitted
that the separatist leaders, as also government officials and legislators,
had not taken the rules seriously, roaming as they were in vehicles flashing
the VIP insignia, red light, flag etc.
Then, the security. Almost all prominent
separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,
Abdul Gani Bhat, Molvi Abbas Ansari, Shabir Shah, Bilal Lone, Sajad Lone
and Aga Syed Hussan have been classified under one or the other security
category, necessitating
state cover for them.
On being questioned about the drain
of resources that it entails, Jammu and Kashmir minister of state for home
Abdul Rahman Veeri, said: "It is the responsibility of the government to
provide security to the people in a welfare state like ours."
This was done after the leaders
sought cover and its category depended on the threat perception in every
individual case.
While Central Reserve Police Force
personnel guard the two residential houses of the Lone brothers at Sanatnagar,
the houses of all other secessionist leaders are guarded by personnel of
Kashmir police.
That is not all the security they
get.
Molvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Lone,
Sajad Lone and Mirwaiz Umar, who are placed in Z-plus security, also travel
in bullet-proof white Ambassadors provided by the government, said police
sources.
Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq, chairman
of moderate Hurriyat Conference, is shadowed by a Gypsy each in the front
and rear when he travels, carrying 10 policemen.
His residence near the Hazratbal
shrine is fortified by a platoon (24 men) of policemen, who ensure that
even journalists keep away from him.
