In the same breath he says he does not wish to take sides as there is enough disinformation campaign about “my being pro-Hindu, pro-BJP etc…””As governor, Tam bound to be neutral. Yet, I have to state the facts, the facts are the Muslims are killing Hindus and are forcing them to flee from the Valley, leaving behind crores worth property. As governor, can I allow this to continue? My duty is to protect all. I can’t let any community suffer.”

While Jagmohan remains adamant in the heavily guarded, fortress like Raj Bhavan (surrounded by Dal Lake and high-rise green mountains), Fernandes is fast becoming popular with all sections of Kashmiri society. Wherever he goes in the Valley, there is a large mob around him seeking solace. He listens to them patiently as they air their feelings and grievances-from no sanction of newsprint to demand for release of kith and kin, from atrocities by security forces on women to closure of schools due to non-availability of essential commodities-freely and fearlessly. Many of them weep and wail while doing so. They have almost given him the status of a messiah.

In his kurta-pyjamas and worn-out slippers, Fernandes sits amidst without any security and takes note of all that they say.

Later, he sorts them out with state government officials or Delhi officials or even the Prime Minister as the case may be. This, according to him, is part of the political process in the present circumstances.

As if out of vengeance the state administration arrest all those who meet Fernandes. The governor’s men, frustrated in their attempts of nabbing the real ultras find them easy targets. The ultras today enjoy the support of all sections of Kashmiri society and sense find easy protection. Said Jagmohan: ”I don’t deny the rest of those meeting Fernandes and others. The officials must have some evidence against them. We don’t arrest indiscriminately. We have a list of five categories actual ultras, organizer who help them financially, supporters who paste posters, etc., pagodas and those who are all right. After interrogation those found all right are let off immediately. At any stage we don’t have more than 200-300 people with us.”

Jagmohan is supported by a team officers. secretary RK Thakkar, director-general of police Saxena, two additional directors-general of police-OP Sarwal (Operations) and MN Kapoor (Intelligence), three advist JM Qureshi, Ved Marwaha and Virendra Prakash, and three special commissioners JA Khan (Srinagar) and Badgaon district Wajahai Habibullah (Anantnag and Pulwama districts and C. Wnsong (Kupwara and Baram districts)

Along with their subordinates and intelligence sleuths, they follow Fernandes and identify the people meeting him with the help of local police and officials. As soon as Fernandes leaves, they are rounded up. They are “easy prey” because they shout Allah-hoo-Akbar, Naara-eTakbir, Ham kya chahte hain, azadi azadi.” After that they complain at random about Jagger high-handedness and security forces’ atrocities on men, women and children.

At Anantnag, Naseema complained: My brother Mohammad Shafi Butt was taken away by the security forces 30 days back. So far we know nothing about him, we don’t even know whether he is alive. How can he be a terrorist? He is a junior engineer in the rural development department.”

Barbaric

Linesman Ghulam Hussain complained: “The local DIG Virana Aball and SP Ashok Bhan are barbaric. Their men misbehave with our women folk but they take no action. They say we deserve such treatment.”

Commented Abdul Ghani: The way security forces raid our villages, loot our houses and mess up our household goods has to be seen to be believed. Such behavior only generates hatred for the government. How long can we tolerate such barbarism? If they find militant and nab him, we don’t mind. When they’re unable to do that they harass us. Is it justified?”

Sayeed Shas, MUF’s es-MLA, who led the men and women and an allegation of about 200, fumed at Fernandes: “Have you come here to rub salt on our wounds? If you are a government representative, we’ll not talk to you. But, as a human being, yes, we’re there prepared to share our grief and agony with you.”

Fernandes reacted: “Yes, I have come to listen to you.”

And then a series of complaints began, each one more serious than the other. One person said the BSF and army men admonished them for wearing salwar Kameez and sporting a beard. They were asked to wear shirt-trousers.

“Salwar Kameez is our dress. We grow towards because we are Muslims. What is wrong in it?” asked the Muslims.

Sabina complained: “Why should Jagmohans men raid our kitchen and mix a, rice, dal, haldi, chili and other spices? Are we animals?”

There were more such complaints all of which prove that the people are harassed a lot. The security forces, on the pretext of looking for ultras, have made life hell for the average Kashmiris. They claim they have full authority to decide what action is to be taken on the spot. Evidently, the beautiful burqa clad Kashmiri women are not immune from such barbarity. Thus, if Fernandes is trying hard to bring the Kashmiris back to the mainstream, Jagmohan and his men are doing their best to alienate them through their thoughtless actions.

Says Sayeed Shas :”If Jagmohan thinks bullet is the only answer in Kashmir, then the entire Kashmiris, including children, will have to be shot. Fernandes has adopted the right approach of listening to us and taking action. For over 40 years we have been economically, politically and socially exploited. Enough is enough. We can’t allow that to continue. We’re determined to have a permanent solution.”

Fernandes has understood this psyche. They want Azadi form exploitation. That is why Fernandes does not have objection to Srinagar’s Urdu news bulletins ending with Khuda Hafez or the PM being referred to as Wazire-Azam. But Jagmohan thinks its part of secessionism and communalism. Fernandes wants the HMT factory reopened immediately because, out of 1,100 odd employees, over 950 attended office even when the tension was at its height. Jagmohan thinks HMT had become a den of ultras and their supporters.

Though he claims to have removed all militant posters from the Valley, militant flags uprooted et al, the fact is that almost every day militant imposed civil curfew is 100 per cent successful in the Valley whereas the state government’s curfew is only partially observed. Militants continue to kill people daily. They have even turned the Idgah at Srinagar town into a graveyard for their kith and kin killed by the security forces. The graveyard is fast becoming popular with the local population paying obeisance there every day. There is a green flag on the tree with its roots inside the graveyards, Jagmohan has not been able to take off that flag despite all his claims.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 26, 1990