A year of massive ignorance for Chenab Valley after abrogation of Article 370
After the removal of special provisions under Article 370, there was a mixed reaction on the ground but after one year, the residents of Chenab valley share the common story of denial. Starting from Kishtwar district, the Chenab region joins the areas along with Chenab river till Ramban district and a sub division of Reasi district, which shares almost equal ratio of Hindu-Muslim population. The mixed nature of population has given birth to different understanding of the region with two dominant groups – one which identifies itself with Kashmir and other which aligns itself to Jammu. The understanding is also driven by the religious beliefs with Muslim majority Kashmir on one side and Hindu majority Jammu on other.
But the things have changed over last few years, as people have come together to raise their voice over the discrimination they have faced from Kashmir and ignorance from Jammu. This has resulted in residents sharing a common ground on the issues of education, development and economy.
The feeling of being crushed between two dominant regions has led to the emergence of another group which is demanding a separate division for themselves. This group sees almost equal participation of Hindus and Muslims.
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Very less has been known of the history of militancy in Chenab which the Hindu and Muslim population of the cake have survived together unlike in Kashmir.
Timeline of abrogation of Article 370 (in Chenab Valley)
Pre-Abrogation of Article 370 and 35-a
Majority of population have reported number of protests, shutdowns in support of Article 370 and 35-a from a decade. On 30 August 2018, according to a video report by The Chenab Times youths from Kahara tehsil of Doda district pasted posters on all vehicles in support of Article 370 and 35-a, the posters reads “Save Article 370” , “Save Article 35-A” and other supportive slogans.
August 4, 2019
Paramilitary forces arrived in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Huge number of forces reached Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and other parts of Chenab valley. Panic gripped among people. But no one was aware about August 5.
Post Abrogation of Article 370
August 5, 2019
During the intervening night of 4th and 5th August, Internet, Calling snapped but the SMS were continue working. The morning of August 5 was so horrific, people were seen running towards markets for buying essential items as the restrictions were announced. Forces deployed in all parts of Chenab valley. SMS were working and people managed to do some conversation but it works for half day as SMS limits was 100 per day. Some leaders from different political parties arrested.
August 6, 2019
No one was allowed to visit out of house. Markets were shut, no gatherings reported. Rumours were being spread across the region, some says “400 killed by forces in Kashmir” “50 youths arrested in Kishtwar” and many more rumours spread. Due to no internet access, no calling, no SMS, no one was able to confirm the facts. And the panic situation gripped across region.
The calling services was restored firstly in Doda-Kishtwar on 29 August 2019 and after some days in Ramban district.
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Arrests and Release of Political leaders
There were orders of house arrest for six persons in Kishtwar but four were detained. Because two were out of Kishtwar that day. Those kept under house arrest include Imam Markazi Jamia masjid Moulana Farooq Kichloo, former MLA GM Saroori, District President PDP Advocate Sheikh Nasir, and District President NC Tanveer Kichloo.
Firdous Tak and Sajad Kichloo were out of Kishtwar.
Many persons were detained in police station and later were released by Tehsildar on furnishing of bail bonds. Those detained at police station were from NC Shakeel Kamal, DD Farooq, from PDP Wasil Dolwal, Umar Malik, Naseer Bhagwan, social activists Shabir Peer, Shakir Siddiqui.
They were relased one by one. Longest detention was of PDP District President Sheikh Nasir who was relased on 28 Augusts.
In Doda, there were several arrests including Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy NC president Doda, President Anjuman e Islamia Bhaderwah, Congress leader Majid Wani from Doda were in house arrest and a youth Rehmatullah Padder from Doda was arrested later released after 14 days.
Advocate Hassan Babur Nehru’s house was raided during intervening night of 4th and 5th December but he ran away from his house and remain hiding for one month.
In a conversation with The Chenab Times correspondent,Babur said,
My house was raided at 1:00 interveining night 4th and 5th December….but i jumped over and ran away….had to be on the run for 1 month.
All the arrested persons across were later released most of them were released after an agreement for not organising any protest or any progam that leads to law and order situation, according to sources.
After a year of abrogation, majority of the people here in Chenab region believes that nothing has changed in terms of development. Despite this, huge loss in Business sector reported.
A local resident Raja Irfan who started a Internet cafe in February-March 2019 says, “I belong to a poor family, so I don’t had much money to invest in any Business. I borrow some 20-30 thousands rupees money from my relatives to start my business by filling online forms using mobile 4G. But after 3-4 months when Article 370 was abrogated, my shop was closed. And I waited for long but till now I didn’t completed the borrowed money. I am still in loss.”
Number of people shares the same stories who were beginners as well as old businessmen. Abrogation of 370 has marked a year, but Chenab region remained neglected as it was always.
Situation on August 5, 2020
Several PDP leader from Kishtwar including former MLC Firdous Tak and District President Kishtwar Sheikh Nasir Advocate arrested by police at Police station Kishtwar at 11:30pm.
Iltija Mufti tweeted from her mother Twitter handle, “PDP leaders @takfirdous & Sheikh Nasir have been detained by @JmuKmrPolice at Kishtwar. With dissent being criminalised, its glaringly obvious that J&K is now a police state & COVID simply an excuse to justify repression.”
PDP leaders @takfirdous & Sheikh Nasir have been detained by @JmuKmrPolice at Kishtwar. With dissent being criminalised, its glaringly obvious that J&K is now a police state & COVID simply an excuse to justify repression pic.twitter.com/b08gLCOkqF
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 4, 2020
In an conversation during intervening night of 4th and 5th August with Chenab Times, Sheikh Nasir said, “I am in Police custody”. Meanwhile, Sheikh Nasir shared a video with us in which he described how his party (PDP) requests administration for permission for a protest on August 5.
Senior NPP leaders Chowdhary Mohd Iqbal (State vice president), Rashid Chowdhary (District youth president) and Neeraj Singh Manhas (District president) detained by Doda Police yesterday.
Restrictions in Chenab Valley on August 5
Restrictions imposed across whole Chenab Valley and after asking the reason for strict restrictions, the administration officials said that these are only due to coronavirus pandemic.
[This article is expanding]
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