A Look through the Mist
Terror affected and those under threats for forced exodus
people in Indian State of J&K
By
Daya Sagar
Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah has very plainly advised GOI something like suggesting that the solution
to what is happening Kashmir valley does not lie in goodwill gestures like sanction of
infrastructure projects or employment
generation programmes but in ‘political solutions’ to Kashmir
issue. Ofcourse he does clearly spell out what political solution within Indian
constitution would satisfy the separatists and the ‘new generation youth’ whom
he can not stop from identifying with Afzal Guru. So as regards the return of Kashmiri Migrants with honour and social security it is not the
infrastructural projects or increase in summer Kashmir Valley tourism that need be given priority. The need is for
checking the growing ideological pollution
and check those who have been cultivating more of doubts and anti
-opinions in Kashmir Valley even after
1990. There is utmost need to draw a very clear line between the anti India
ideologies / demands and the Kashmiri
aspirations with in constitutional frame work since at occasions it becomes
very difficult to draw line between the separatists and mainstream parties the
way some mainstream party leaders question India Government, even Indian
Nation. Unless the questions are answered
in an unbiased manner it will also be unfair to accuse the Kashmiri
valley youth who may be getting carried with those who question India. Unless
it is done it will be unfair to ask Kashmiri migrants to return to Kashmir
valley just for taking employment or make use of some financial help for house
construction since they have to have a HOME and simply a house in Kashmir
Valley.
The plight of the Hindu Migrants belonging to Kashmir
valley who were made to run for life in 1989 added a new chapter in the agony of displaced
people of Jammu and Kashmir . Majority of the Kashmiri migrants 1989 are local
Hindu. They are out of their homes for over 23 years. Return of the Hindu
migrant to Kashmir Valley with honor and safety
has not been given the first
priority by either government, where as it should have been kept above all
other project proposals. Construction of
permanent multistory pucca colonies for Kashmiri migrants in Jammu ( Jagti) or
transit camp colonies (Migrant transit camp at Vesu in south Kashmir’s Anantnag
district ) in Kashmir valley has not so far done any good to the ‘ project
return of Kashmiri Migrants to Kashmir Valley’ , instead such programmes have
so far sent wrong signals to the new generation of Kashmiries back home
in Kashmir Valley and international community suggesting that India has lost control over
Kashmir valley and it is only the writ of separatists that prevails there. Such
impressions need be wiped off. The
unfortunate people from Kashmir
valley (affected directly or indirectly
due to militancy) would be any where from 50000
to 60000 families ( 2.5 to 3 Lac people). Local Kashmiri migrant leaders place the total population from 300000 to 700000.
In addition to local Kashmiri
Hindu , some families comprising Hindu ,Muslims , others who did not have status of Permanent Resident of J&K too migrated from Kashmir valley
after 1989. So strangely they have been denied relief like other Kashmir valley
migrants by State Government. Central Government too has not taken notice of
this till date.
Militancy affected people have
not been only in Kashmir Valley.
In
addition to migrants from Kashmir Region a
very large area and population even in remote areas of Jammu Region
have been under the pressures / threats of militants right since 1990. Many
people of these remote areas depend on the forest / pastures for their livelihood and comprise
of gujjars, bakerwals, gaddies and the like
more exposed to physical dangers
from the militancy. No doubt the Hindu there is more distressed and scared
but even some muslim majority pockets in
the remote areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, and like
are helplessly living there uncared over last 2 decades for being educationally/ administratively/ economically
the weakest. Some people ( including
muslims ) may not be moving out from these areas since they may not be hoping for better economic
activity and care outside. Some of them
did flee from their homes / migrate to other areas but since they were poor, illiterate, lesser
educated, non government service class they could not project their plight. It
was on 9th March 2006 that National Conference MLC, Bashir Ahmad Naaz pleaded
on the floor l for granting migrant status like Kashmiri Pundit Migrants, to residents
of Doda, Rajouri and Poonch . Naz went to the extent of saying that despite
Court direction the migrants of these areas have not been treated fairly. The
protests and demands are still being heard even in 2013.
What is the total number of Terrorism affected
people in the Jammu region of J&K State
is not known. How
many people migrated from militancy affected areas or due to militant
threats from areas in Jammu
Region after 1989/1990 or how many migrated families went back
is not known . How Many Families are still migrant could be another question.
As per
reports on 14 August 1993; Militants Hijack bus no; JKU 2003
from Sarthal morh ( Kishtwar ) and massacred 16 innocent passengers. {
Sham Lal Tagod, Dharminder of chingam, Anu Kumar of Palmal,
devi dayal and Dharam Chand of Barkoot,
Shiv Kumar of Shalimar road Jammu,
Balwant sing hog Palmar, Rishi Chand of jammu, Prem nath of Kuntwara, Rattan lal of Udhampur, Suresh Kumar of Subash Nagar
jammu, Jia lal of Mulchitra, Bansi Lal
of Kishtwar and 4 others.
A large number of people from Doda district had migrated to
Chamba ( Himachal Pradesh) in April May / June 1994
and it was only after the Inspector General Police Jammu and Divisional
Commissioner visited them in first week
of June 1994 that they returned . What rehabilitation package they were given
could be still a question.
These incidents are quoted here just
to show that many areas outside Kashmir Valley too got hit by terrorist culture
at the times when Kashmir Valley was hit.
People
from some districts of Jammu
Region had to migrate from their homes in remote areas and but they
later returned to their homes. It
has been alleged by some that since
they were not looked after by the government they returned
to their
areas. Any how, may be the allegations against the government are false.
Was any relief package given to such migrants for return ? If so, what was the value of
that government must make it public.?
There is no separate department created
by J&K Government or GOI for looking after the needs of the
militancy affected of Jammu Region
like Relief Commissioner (
Kashmir Migrants).
No. of widows, students who had
lost their parents, no of totally disabled persons waiting for rehabilitation,
number of students who
abandoned their schools and women who
lost their honor due to terrorist
acts in distant areas of Doda ( Kishtwar, Ramban), Udhampur ( Reasi), Kathua , Rajouri, Poonch may not be less. Still the people of the region have been complaining that are not paid relief equivalent to Kashmiri migrants.
It has been given to understand that inspite terrorist threats /
militancy many people of distantly placed / remote areas of Jammu Region have
not moved out of their areas and have instead dared to stay back since they
expected no support from Government like that given to Kashmiri migrants. No
special assistance been given to people of militancy affected areas of Jammu Region as
regard education, employment,
agriculture, horticulture, trade etc.?
Earlier also these distant and
remote areas have been facing all round economic neglect and after 1990
discrimination with the militancy affected people has added to their woes. It
could be said that earlier it was the case of POJK DPs .- Now it is the case of
Victims of Migration in Jammu Region. The number of such people, directly
or indirectly affected due to
militancy but staying in their
homes could surely be not less than
another 5 to 7 Lac,
So in view of the continued disturbances ,that people in
J&K have since 1947 lived in, and the
prevailing conditions there is a need for constituting a separate Migrant Relief and Local Area
Welfare Board / Commission for Militancy
affected People of Jammu Region in addition to the existing
Relief commissioner Migrants ( Kashmiri ).
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