June 14: Besides bumpy lanes and by-lanes, a cluster of villages, 30 Km from zero point of summer capital of the state on Srinagar-Gulmarg National Highway in Pattan constituency of Baramulla district, know nothing but killings and mayhem.
Suspicion follows any stranger and it seems as if their eyes are always on guard. Hesitance prevails at all levels and you may not be a welcome visitor to the residents. These are the people who have seen bloodshed as a routine and life costs cheap. Most of the killings have been carried out by strangers, thus the fair among them.
Each household has a tale to tell, ending with the killing of their dear ones. Chaos and uncertainty has become the norm as it is far 70 year old over burdened Ghulam Ahmad Tantray after losing his six family members. Wrinkled face, sunken eyes, lowered shoulders and epileptic strokes have shadowed him during all these years of turbulence in the state. “They were fighting and I was paying, with the blood of my nears and dears”, he usually utters as the thought of insurgency cross his mind and eyes fall on his son’s young widow, Jana, and their two little kids-Rubina, 12 and Mudasir, 8. Tears have failed him as he doesn’t want to dampen the spirit of his grief stricken family. “I even can’t cry as it will further weaken their urge to live”, he laments silently while talking to Newstrack India in confines of his one storey window less house.
The narrow stream surrounding a side of his compound isn’t enough to end his sufferings and torture. “Recently Wali Khan’s son (neighbour) was killed and the thought of my departed members fainted me,” he says while talking of some latest killings in the area.
Ghulam Hasan Khan, 25 son of Wali Mohammad Khan was killed in the area. He was a militant and died in an encounter. Till now many more have been killed, “thankfully” with less frequency.
Tantray’s case is different, he lost all his members by the hands of militants and being a National conference sympathizer was enough reason. Pangs of death hovered around his family when militants killed his nephew, 28 year old Mohammad Maqbool son of Ghulam Mohi-U-Din in n1993. Since then death knocked his door now and then. On Aug 26, 2001 his younger son, Mohammad Shaban Tantray-Jana’s husband, was killed on the pretext of being government sponsored gunmen, which he denies. “I failed to save my son, he was craving for peace”, he says while patting his grandson.
Tantray’s choked voice fails him while revealing the names of his killed family members. During year 1995, Tantray lost his two brothers, Ghulam Nabi, 47 and Ghulam Mohammd, 30, and former’s son Mohammad Yousuf, 25. Nabi’s son in law, Mohammad Hafeez was also killed by militants. “Being NC sympathizers led to the killings”, he reasoned after lot of deliberations. “Our house was gutted five times for the same reason”, he adds.
Now Tantray just dream of better future for his remaining members especially for the six children of the victims as Sara, his neighbours confines, “after militants killed my husband and his two brothers, I only want dignified life for my three daughters and a son”.
Tantray’s case might be different but most of the victims were of cross firing and security forces. This area is known for its “pro-freedom” bent of mind and for that they are paying the price, as most of the villagers want visitors to believe.
Within three villages-Tantray Mohalla, Sofi Mohalla and Rai Pora, of Palhalan, naked dance of death has always ruffled inhabitants. Collectively 150 households of the area lost 320 members out of which 188 were affiliated with different militant organizations.
Palhalan started its association with killings, when a congress party worker and numberdar (head man) of the village, Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh, 54 son of Abdul Rahim Sheikh was killed by militants in broad day light of May 29, 1991. Since then, death has relished more than three hundred locals.
“I can’t bring my son back but that of others should be saved. Peace should prevail”, said Taja, whose son’s body was the last one carried by villagers up to nearby grave yard.
Mothers like Taja, Sara, Fatima and head of the families like Tantray and Ghulam Mohi-U-Din, don’t know anything about ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan, what they carve is peace. “I don’t know anything about the dialogue between two countries; I don’t know what they mean by freedom. What I knew is freedom from gun, tyranny, grief and underdevelopment. That is all what I crave for besides safety of our children and brothers”, said Ghulam Mohi-U-Din, who lost his son Ghulam Hassan Khan.
Palhalan is waiting for the outcome of the visits paid by local Hurriyat leaders to New Delhi and Islamabad and of the composite dialogue between two countries. They think it is right time when parties should concentrate on peace, durable one.
(Palhalan is situated on Srinagar-baramulla highway 30 kms from the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. During a recent visit to the area, Newstrack India correspondent SADIQ ALI tried to report the agony and mayhem of the area, known as Village of death. Till now many more inhabitants were buried in the neighboring graveyard with inscribed green stones over their graves.
This is the first part of the series about Jammu and Kashmir were thousands of locals perished during last 18 years of insurgency. Official records put death toll around 40,000 but unofficially it is round about 75000 and separatist leaders claim it to be more than one lakh.)
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