Sheikh Nadeem
Imran Dar, a 23-year-old social media enthusiast from Srinagar’s Zadibal area, was once an active participant in online discussions. On August 13, 2023, after expressing an opinion about the targeting of women online and offline, his life changed drastically. “I was labelled a feminist, and what followed was brutal trolling. My mother and sisters, who were also on social media, faced abuse—even from people I considered friends,” Imran recalls.
The harassment escalated quickly. Screenshots of his comments were circulated in WhatsApp groups, attracting more abusers to his profile. “It caused me severe anxiety,” Imran says. “It’s distressing to read about your sisters being abused.”
Overwhelmed, Imran and his sisters have since abandoned social media, retreating from a space they once freely navigated.
This personal story is just one of many that illustrate the growing anger and intolerance gripping the Kashmir Valley.
In recent months, this anger has manifested in increasingly violent ways. Earlier this week, a video showing a young boy lying in a pool of blood in a cricket stadium went viral.
The boy had been assaulted with a cricket bat in Madankha, Nowgam, leaving him severely injured and shivering in pain.
Srinagar Police quickly took cognizance of the incident, registering an FIR and arresting two suspects. However, this was not an isolated case.
Experts in Kashmir have linked the rising rates of violence and suicides to the mounting anger and intolerance in society.
A particularly shocking incident occurred in May in Mominabad, Batamaloo, where Ajaz Ahmed Bhat was brutally stabbed to death by a 16-year-old boy. The motive? Anger and revenge over Ajaz’s objection to the boy’s advances towards his teenage daughter.
This tragic event highlights a disturbing trend: the surge in knife-related crimes across the Valley, driven by personal vendettas and uncontrolled anger.
Knife crimes have been on the rise, with incidents reported in places like Anantnag, where three stabbings occurred in a single day. In 2023 alone, there have been more than a hundred such incidents, most involving young men between the ages of 15 and 30.
The statistics are alarming. The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s annual gazette reported a 15.41% increase in registered crimes in 2020 compared to 2019. While the crime report for 2022 has yet to be released, the overall crime rate in Jammu and Kashmir surged by 24.6% in 2021.
The rising crime rate is attributed to a variety of factors, including strained relationships, jealousy, and, most notably, intolerance.
In a society once known for its Sufi traditions of love and tolerance, the shift towards rage and intolerance is particularly stark.
The Valley of Sufis, where the teachings of love and peace once prevailed, now witnesses incidents where minor rejections lead to acid attacks, brutal murders, and other violent acts.
The recent past has seen rage boil over from the smallest of disputes, sometimes resulting in horrific consequences.
In Shopian’s Rakhama area, a 28-year-old groom named Mubashir Ahmed was attacked with a knife on his wedding day. Unidentified assailants barged into his home during the Mehendi ceremony and critically wounded him.
Mubashir was rushed to the hospital with abdominal injuries, where doctors fought to save his life. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but it adds to the growing list of violent incidents that have left communities in shock and fear.
Last year, the Valley was shaken by another barbaric crime. In Budgam, a man was arrested for allegedly killing a woman, chopping her body into several pieces, and burying the remains at different locations.
The police had launched a search after the victim was reported missing by her brother. Following the arrest, the accused confessed to the gruesome act, revealing the locations where he had buried the body parts.
The crime sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the deepening crisis of violence and intolerance in Kashmir.
Kashmir’s social media landscape is a stark reminder of the growing hate, anger, and intolerance that permeates everyday life. The consequences are visible not just online but also in the real world, where violent confrontations are becoming all too common.
As Imran Dar’s story illustrates, the cost of ignoring these issues is too high—both for individuals and for society as a whole.
Psychologists warn that unchecked anger and intolerance can transform into aggression and violence. Dr. Lisa Turner, a psychologist and author of “The Psychology of Violence,” notes that when individuals feel their grievances are not acknowledged, they may resort to violence as an outlet for their frustration.
Dr. Andrew Martinez, a social psychologist, adds that intolerance fosters a hostile environment where conflicts are more likely to escalate into violence.
In Kashmir, the consequences of this growing anger and intolerance are all too real. The surge in knife attacks and other violent crimes demands immediate attention.
Addressing these issues requires not only acknowledging their existence but also taking concerted action to promote tolerance, understanding, and peaceful conflict resolution.
The Valley, once a bastion of Sufi love and tolerance, must find a way to reclaim these values before the cycle of violence spirals further out of control.