SHABIR IBN YUSUF
RESHIGUND (KUPWARA), Oct 12: The scenes of nineties are visible in this remote hamlet of Kupwara. Fear is visible on the faces of the youth and the parents are worried about their wards.
Here the J&K police are arresting the boys for stone pelting. However, the residents SAY that some low rung politicians, like Halqa presidents and staunch voters of ruling party are forcing the police to arrest the youth on false pretexts and later book them under PSA.
From my neighbouring village, Dardsun three youth have booked under PSA and are jailed in Kotbhalwal Jammu. The police are looking for youth and they travel in civil TATA Sumo vehicles. Once a TATA Sumo enters the village, the youth take shelter in nearby forest to save themselves from police wrath.
The youth studying in higher classes of school are unable to go the schools and youth in other professions above the age of 14 years too are not able to resume normal work because of fear. The parents of the wards allege that police pick up the youth whosoever comes in their way. “They are arresting the youth without any allegation.
They arrest them without any sin,” almost all the wards complain and add that they are unable to understand why there is no accountability for the cops. “We witnessed the massive arrests by army during the 90s and police is now doing the same,” said a retired teacher of the area. “Like these days we used to move towards the forests in 90s,” he added. The Mokdam (village head) of area had to serve the tea to many residents in the morning. The residents visit him to confirm the names of youth police is looking for however, the village head did not know anything about the police activities. “If police has to arrest somebody they won’t tell me in advance,” said the village head.
The parents and the youth did not deny that they have not participated in protests. “My son participated in protests that rocked the valley for three months,” said a resident. “He did not kill anybody; they were fired upon by CRPF and police,” he added. The move of police has also affected the harvest season that is at its peak in
