Asif Iqbal Naik
Kishtwar
Amid deadlock between the representatives of two communities in Kishtwar District in wake of aftermath of communal clashes, the curfew continued in the district on the 12th day on Tuesday. Even the all party delegation which was today joined by Medical Education Minister Taj Mohuddin and comprises of Devender Singh Rana and Surjit Singh Slathia of National Conference, Janak Raj Gupta of Congress, Dr Nirmal Singh and Ashok Khajuria of BJP, Balwant Singh Mankotia of Panther Party, Sheikh Abdul Rehman of Samajwadi Party, Tulsi Dass Langeh of BSP, Thakur Randhir Singh of NCP and others arrived at Kishtwar yesterday fail to bring the two communities on negotiation table. During two marathon meetings, one in Monday evening and the 2nd Tuesday morning, the delegation fail to break the ice as both the communities stick to their demands.
Meanwhile the majority community during six hours marathon meeting with all party delegation at DC office Kishtwar launched a scathing attack on BJP and accuses them off communalizing the clashes at state and national level. They alleged that local BJP leader Sunil Sharma with the help of state party leadership communalizes the Kishtwar violence. They said that at the time of massive earthquakes in Doda region when people suffered huge loss, BJP top leadership including Arun Jaitely did not utter a single word. They said that due to earthquake, 98% population was affected while in Kishtwar violence only 2% including members of majority community got affected.
The majority community hailed the role played by the army in controlling the riots. While demanding snatching of weapons from VDCs, the majority community advised the administration to use good office of army and keep the weapons of VDcs deposited with army and handed over the same to them as and when required. They also questioned the role of VDCs in anti militancy operation and added that during militancy VDCs only played role in neutralizing of 3 militants, while rest operations against militants was either carried out by police or by the army. They said that there are 42 cases of murder registered against VDCs.
While defending the former MoS Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, the majority community question the role of BJP in releasing of Kandhar hijacker Molana Masood Azhar and added that if BJP government cannot put the life of 180 passengers on risk, then how come Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo can put the lives of 25000 people who had come to attend Eid Nimaaz at risk by issuing firing orders. They said that Muslims are equally the stake holders of India and said that killing of innocent people by shooting slogans like “Bharat Matta ki ji” cannot be justified. They demanded an independent probe in killing of three people. They also advised the saffron parties to train their guns on China and not against their own Muslim peoples living in Jammu and Kashmir. Some speakers also demanded social boycott of businessman of minority community. Many speakers once again defened the role of DIG Doda Kishtwar range Ashkoor Ahmed Wani and demanded immediate arrest of BJP leader Sunil Sharma and also release of Muslim youths arrested by the police after the clashes.
Even though the all party delegation got succeeded in bring the temper of majority community down and finally make them agreed to participate in peace march, but the minority community representatives fail to turn up for peace meeting in the evening forcing the majority community representatives to left the meeting hall in anger after waiting for nearly 2 hours for the arrival of minority community representatives. However when report last came in, all party delegation is making desperate efforts to bring an end to deadlock between the two communities.
The continuous deadlock between the two communities had generated a lot of anger among the local people who demanded immediate lifting of curfew in the District. The student community has suffered a lot on account of their studies. Nearly 500 students from both the communities studying in various professional colleges in state as outside has also shown their anger and demanded relaxation in curfew so that they will be able to shift out of the District.
It is pertinent to mention that government has already issued transfer order of over 90 local police personal out of District and if sources within the police could be believed, more transfer of local police personal is on cards.
