[dropcap]U[/dropcap]nrest has been happening in Kashmir from last two months, which is also known as the Burhan Wani’s aftermath, transformed in a series of violent protests in the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir. The violence started with the killing of Burhan Wani, a militant commander of Hizbul Mujahideen by Indian Army on 8th July, this year. After his killing, anti-India protests started in Kashmir Valley. Protesters defied curfew with attacks on security forces and public properties. Curfew was imposed in all 10 districts of the valley on 15 July and mobile services were suspended by the government. Kashmir valley remained under 53 days of consecutive curfew which was lifted from all areas on 31 August, however was reimposed in some areas the next day. Jammu and Kashmir Police and Indian paramilitary forces used pellet guns, tear gas shells, rubber bullets, as well as assault rifles, resulting in the deaths of more than 60 civilians, with over 7,000 injured. Two security personnel also died while over 4,000 personnel were injured in the riots. One Wani created ripples in the Valley while another Wani who is also from the Valley top the recruitment exam and joined the Border Security Force (BSF). One led to protest while another one led to protect people here in Kashmir.
Twenty six year old, Nabeel Ahmad Wani will join the largest border guarding force as an assistant commandant. Wani was accompanied by Director General of BSF K K Sharma when he met Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Rajnath Singh also introduced Wani to top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and others, who had come for a meeting with Singh during that time. Wani is learnt to have said that he felt that unemployment was the biggest problem being faced by the youth. He said it could only be solved by education. BSF sources said, Wani has studied engineering from a Pathankot college and says that he always wanted to join defence forces. He is currently serving as a junior engineer in Udhampur. He is insisting his people to be educated to choose the right path. Inspite of all odds in his native state, he chose to serve the nation and his state.
On the other hand, Burhan Wani was a commander of the terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen. He was popular among the Kashmiris due to his activity on social media and had issued many photos and videos on social media against Indian rule in Kashmir. He was killed in an encounter with the Indian security forces in July. Widespread protests have erupted in the Kashmir valley after his death which has been described as the worst unrest in the region since 2010.
Burhan was born in Dadsara village of Tral area of Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir to Muzaffar Ahmad Wani, a principal of a higher secondary school and Maimoona Muzaffar, a postgraduate of science who teaches the Quran in her village. He had four siblings, including his elder brother Khalid Muzaffar Wani, sister Iram Muzaffar and two younger brothers, one of whom is Naveed Alam. Burhan fled from his home on 16 October 2010 and became a militant at the age of 15. He had reportedly decided to join the militancy due to an incident in which security personnel beat him up, along with his friend and Khalid, according to his father and his friend who claimed to have been accompanying him when the incident occurred. He joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 2011, and was popular on social media.
Khalid was killed by the Indian Army on 13 April 2015, when he had gone along with three friends to meet his brother.
The army claimed that Khalid was a militant sympathizer who had taken his friends to get them recruited and was killed in an encounter by the security forces. The three friends of Khalid were arrested by the army. The Jammu & Kashmir police couldn’t confirm or deny whether he and his friends had joined militancy. His father and residents of his home village rejected that he was a militant, claiming that his body didn’t bear any bullet wounds and he was tortured because he was the brother of a militant. Government of India had announced Rs. 1 million bounties for finding Burhan Wani. In a video released in June 2016, he assured the Amarnath pilgrims that they won’t be attacked by the militants. In addition, he also threatened to attack Sainik colonies because of his belief that it was an attempt to change the demography of the valley to that of Israel. He opposed separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits saying that they can come live on their own land but an “Israel-like” situation won’t be allowed in Kashmir. He threatened that more attacks will take place against “men in uniform” and also warned the police of the state to stay out of their way.
The tales of two Wanis are different but both are making headlines.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
