A team from the European Union, which visited Kashmir sometime back, in their report submitted to EU Secretariat, called it a “Beautiful Prison”. Last year’s Cross-Border tragedy, which took thousands of lives on both sides of the line dividing Kashmir, has amply demonstrated the existence of this “Prison”. The first sign of the “Prison” was the inability of thousands of locals from the Indian side in the areas bordering Pakistan side of Kashmir to go and help their blood relations who were in extreme distress. They were dying and suffering, so near, yet so far because of the artificial divide of highly militarised LOC (Line of Control). These miserable people felt so helpless that some crossed regardless of the consequences. After more than three weeks of the tragedy, the two countries, which have no moral or legal right to with hold the travel of local inhabitants, finally agreed to open the line for limited travel by the relatives of the victims. Even then the travel was put under so many restrictions that very few people were able to undertake this. Far quite some time in the beginning only goods were being exchanged and the suffering people on both sides used to watch each other without being given any chance to meet. The procedure for travel was the same as was prescribed for the “Prison Bus”, which was started in the beginning of last year between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. Forms have to be filled up and exchanged as per past practice. The only concession is that the clearance is supposed to be given within ten days. Entire world now knows about the infamous LOC and how it has been adversely affecting the lives of Kashmiris. Let us leave the physical crossing aside; even people were not in a position to speak with each other as the Indian Government has barred the outgoing calls from Kashmir to Pakistan as well as Pakistan side of Kashmir.

After tremendous internal and external pressure they allowed controlled booths at four places for Kashmiris to speak to their relatives for a limited time. Can such a thing exist anywhere in the present day free world and especially in the “World’s largest democracy”, which passed last year the historical “Right to Information Act” and appointed a Chief Information Commissioner?

Unfortunately all Kashmiris are being treated as “Ugarwadis” and “Aatankwadis”, (Terrorists). There are almost one million Indian soldiers including paramilitary troops in Kashmir. Their minds have been brain washed to treat all Kashmiris as suspected terrorists. They consider Kashmir as enemy territory. Let us glance around and observe the security scenario. Throughout the length and breadth of Kashmir the most common thing visible everywhere is a security forces’ bunker. Some are permanent, made of concrete and bricks and some are of sand bags. These are on all roads, bridges and other sensitive locations. Almost everywhere, in the city and on all-important roads the bunkers are surrounded by barbed wire and other obstructions, which have every where reduced the effective width of the roads resulting sometimes in traffic jams and utter chaos. A large number of Hotels, Guest Houses and private homes of migrants have been converted in to barracks for these troops in many places deep inside residential areas. All official residential areas of State Ministers, Government Officers and other important dignitaries are like mini cantonments with drop gates, bunkers and pillboxes. Every visitor is stopped, questioned and physically frisked before being allowed to enter the area. The “democratically elected” popular Chief Minister used to stay in a fort, which cannot even be assaulted by a tank! He had Z-plus security level. Same level is for the former Chief Ministers and some other important functionaries. For their travel, the state has imported bulletproof cars with remote jammers costing millions of rupees. State must be spending more on their security than on some of the important civic amenities for the general public. Apart from these important people, there are a host of other categories of officers, legislators and even defeated candidates of earlier elections whom the state is protecting with personal security officers and bulletproof cars in addition to permanent guards at their residences. There are about 5000 security vehicles detailed for the purpose. Imagine the quantity of fuel consumed by these vehicles everyday! All buildings housing Government offices and especially Central Government Offices have very elaborate and massive protection. The State Secretariat has a number of drop gates, security checks and so on. For an ordinary visitor it is a big hassle to go inside. Most difficult places to enter are Central Government Offices like Telephone Exchange, State Bank of India and the Head Post Office. Entering the Post Office is going inside a high security zone. One has to switch off the mobile phone, deposit any matches or lighters and undergo physical search. The most annoying travel is going to the Airport. One Kilometre short of the main Airport there is a security check complete with baggage x-ray and physical search. There is always a long queue of vehicles and one has to wait for an hour sometimes. Passengers are advised to report at least two hours before the scheduled time of departure so as to avoid missing a flight. There are two baggage x-rays and four body searches before one finally enters the aircraft. On arrival there is hardly any check and as such the departing passengers always leave with a bad taste in their mouth spoiling their pleasures, which they may have had during their sojourn in the “Beautiful Valley”. This is an additional nuisance apart from the frequent random roadside checks through out the valley. The Army camps and cantonments are like fortresses. It is almost impossible for an ordinary civilian to go inside any Army area unless he is either working there or has some prior appointment and then too he has to undergo massive security check.

In addition to these stringent security measures, the most dreadful thing is the absolute power enjoyed by the security forces. The two draconian laws, the Disturbed Areas Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act give unbridled power to security forces. Any Soldier can kill a person on the mere suspicion of being a militant or terrorist and his action is not justciable in a court of law. Any soldier can destroy a dwelling on the mere suspicion of being a militant or terrorist hide out and his action is not justiciable in a court of law. With the Powers conferred under these Acts, Custodial Killings and Torture by the Security Forces is impossible to be fully checked. All civilian authority is secondary to security forces because of the disturbed situation. Even exit from this “Prison” is difficult. It takes sometimes years to get a passport. The Passport applications have to be cleared by almost a dozen security, intelligence and police organisations. This verification is even required by Kashmiris leading peaceful lives abroad. Kashmiris working abroad cannot get their Passports renewed or new ones issued unless clearance is given by the State Home Department. They have a “Prisoner Tag” hanging even out there! Within the “Prison” every one right from Chief Minister downwards is watched and monitored by several intelligence agencies. No reputable foreign NGO concerned with Human Rights such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch are allowed to come here. Important dignitaries who happen to come here are taken on a conducted tour by the Public Relations and Protocol Department of the Government. Every attempt is made to hide the stark truth about the existence of the “Prison”. A thick coat of paint is put on the “Prison”. However, this paint has failed to hide the stark truth and foreign journalists still describe Kashmir as India’s “Dirty backyard”!

Somehow the local people have got used to all these security measures and go along meekly without any protest. Everybody goes home by seven in the evening. All shops get closed as soon as it is dark and by seven or so roads get deserted. All social life in the night hours has come to an end. People have seen so much oppression that they have become insensitive. Only consideration is to somehow survive. They take everything in their stride. There is always a subtle feeling of tension in the air, which gets heightened with every violent incident involving the security forces, as people do not know where their wrath will strike. Every time some VIP comes from Delhi, the entire city comes under siege. The roads leading to the place where the VIP stays are completely closed for traffic. Extensive searches and random checks are carried out. This again adds to the already prevailing tension. These episodes of heightened tension and the continuous under current of subtle tension, which is present always and everywhere, are taking a heavy toll from the local population. Apart from numerous ailments such as hypertension and heart problems, people have become psychic. The number of people suffering from psychosomatic illnesses has multiplied manifold during last decade and a half.
Will we ever get out of this “Prison”? Kashmiris have been waiting for “AZADI” for over four centuries. During this long period of time many attempts were made by them to break away from the yoke of external oppression but without any success. The outsiders have used all the means at their disposal, fair or foul to keep the population down and under.

It is time for both India as well as Pakistan to think if it is worth keeping this “Prison” alive? Both countries are paying a very heavy price to maintain this status quo. Billions of rupees are being spent on depriving people of their fundamental rights. If only we could work out a way for peace in the sub-continent and divert the billions towards Social Services, we would leave the West far behind! The sub-continent with its immense human resource has the capability of becoming the most important Economic Block. One does sometimes think that the West itself encourages the maintenance of status quo as it suits their Global as well as Regional Strategy. In the heart of their hearts they are truly scared of the South Asian Countries turning into a block stronger than even the European Union, which is already having problems to keep their flock together.

People of Kashmir have been pinning for emancipation for generations. Will they ever get it? Kashmir’s story has great similarities to the history of Israelites (Bani Israel). Israelites during their bondage in Egypt had been waiting for a “Deliverer” as had been foretold to them by their elders. After undergoing tremendous hardships Almighty heard their prayers and they finally got the “Deliverer” as Moses who freed them from the bondage of Egypt and took them to the “Promised Land”. Before reaching the “Promised Land” they went to Mount Sinai where God spoke to Moses and gave him Ten Commandments (Torah). However, during the time Moses was on the Mountain, the Israelites again indulged in sin and idolatry. God cursed them and decried that for 40 years they shall wander in the desert till the generation, which had committed the sin in the face of the Lord was consumed. Kashmiris, who also had been suffering for ages got a Moses to free them from this centuries old bondage. Unfortunately, it was the Moses who committed the sin in our case. God alone knows how long we have to wander in the wilderness before getting salvation?