“If they want to kill us for working for the development of our areas, let them do that. We won’t resign. You get killed every day in Kashmir anyway. So sooner the better,” says a Sarpanch of Heevan. “Although the institution of Panchyat is not so strong but we will make it strong by becoming its part, not by resigning out of the fear,” he added.

Back in Palhalan, a surprising development took place last year. A group of children from the village were taken on an all-India Bharat Darshan tour by Indian Army under Operation Sadbhavna. “We went to meet a politician. When I stood up and asked her why our friend Adil Ramzan was killed, she cried,” said Amir Ashraf, who was part of the tour. Like Amir, the people of Palhalan have many questions to ask of the state. Shedding tears is not the answer.

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