As the targeted civilian killings saw an upswing in the valley of Kashmir in the past week, the government forces have taken into detention hundreds of youths from across the valley in order to put a curb on the violence.
Official sources have said that these detentions have been made for investigative purposes and in connection with the recent killing spree that has been witnessed in the valley.
Several Over Ground Workers (OGWs), profiled Stone Pelters and Political Activists associated with various banned political factions and other socio-religious organizations across the valley have been detained by the forces.
Of the many detentions carried out far and wide in Kashmir, officials on condition of anonymity told The Kashmiriyat that 90 persons were picked up from the Kulgam district of South Kashmir. As per reports, 70 are believed to have been made from the summer capital Srinagar, while 40 from Shopian. Nearly thirty people are said to have been detained from Budgam.
In other areas of the valley as well, there have been several reports of the youths being summoned to the police stations and arrested or being detained from their residence itself.
In south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, several families said and said that their kin were summoned to the police station after which they did not return.
Likewise, in district Anantnag, several persons have been arrested after questioning. Though the official estimate is not known, the sources, however, said that arrests have been carried throughout the district- in Bijbehara, Kokernag, Dooru belts of the district.
A family from Anantnag, speaking to The Kashmiriyat, said that their son recieved a call on Friday evening, asking him to visit the local Police Station for counselling. “He never returned, however. We do not know anything. His phone is switched off,” a family member told The Kashmiriyat.
“The youth who have been arrested have close links with militants, either active or slain,” sources told. Although no official count is available on the number of arrests,India Today, in a recent report, said the number of arrests made was 570.
The arrest spree is no news to the valley. It has been incessant in Kashmir post the 2016 civilian uprising. In the year 2018, nearly 800 youth were arrested on the charges of stone pelting or “providing aid to the militants.”
Notably, in the year that followed, thousands of young and old Kashmiris were picked up in the run up to the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A. And in the year 2020, 625 “militant associates” were arrested, according to official estimates.
Twenty-eight civilians have been killed in Kashmir this year, amid a series of targeted attacks this week, the Inspector General of Jammu Kashmir Police said.
Seven civilian lives were claimed in the targeted killings that took place in the past week, triggering panic in the region.
Vijay Kumar, the Inspector General of Jammu Kashmir Police addressed media persons and said, “Out of 28, five persons belong to local Hindu/Sikh community and two non-local Hindu labourers.”
He said that the killings were a result of frustration due to the killing of militants, especially their leaderships, destruction of their support structures and continuous and effective maintenance of law and order.
He added that militant handlers have changed strategy and started targeting unarmed policemen, civilians, politicians, and people from minority communities. A woman from a minority community was one of the recent targets.
In all such cases, the militants have been using pistols, he said, adding that these acts are committed by newly recruited militants or those who are about to join militant’s rank.
“In some cases, OGWs (Over Ground Workers) have been found directly involved,” Kumar said, also adding that the police were working hard and identifying the militants involved. He promised the strictest action.
The killings have been strongly condemned by Kashmiris across all ideological spheres.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehboba Mufti visited Kaur’s family to express her condolences and sympathies.
The National Conference terming the killings as shameful demanded probe into killings including the killing of the civilian killed in CRPF firing in Anantnag on Thrusday evening.
The National Conference vice president, Omar Abdullah, on Friday, made a fervent appeal to members of minority communities and urged them – “Don’t allow repeat of early 90’s and not to leave homes.”
“I can understand the pain and fear the families of slain are going through and also the members of minority communities. I believe these attacks are aimed to drive a wedge between the communities and to push them out of Kashmir,” he added.
The Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Friday expressed deep shock and grief over the recent killings of civilians and said that the “resolution of Kashmir issue” was the key to ending the bloodshed in all its manifestations and usher lasting peace.