On 3 April 2019, the Jammu Kashmir government, currently headed by Governor Satya Pal Mallik, issued an order banning civilian vehicular traffic on the highway in Kashmir stretching from district Baramulla up to Udhampur on every Wednesdays and Sundays until May 31 for the smooth movement of army convoys. And we can’t say whether the order will be lifted in future or not, as most of the orders and laws once implemented in this disputed territory stay forever. The order comes in the wake of Pulwama attack in which around 44 CRPF personnel were killed and as many injured and also in the run-up to the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The draconian order reminds us about the order of Nazi party of 1930’s Germany which prohibited Jews to tread on roads on particular days and time without the prior approval of the German authorities. On Wednesday many civilians were seen stamped and with “allowed” written on their hands, like the way Jews were stamped and asked to wear badges on their arms with “star” on them in Nazi Germany.
Though there was some relaxation given to government employees, doctors, and teachers, others were barred and required getting a government before driving a car or bus on the highway. The order was condemned by many across the political spectrum. While pro-Indian or mainstream parties called it “ mindless” and “unnecessary exercise”, the Separatists, on the other hand, are calling for plebiscite and independence of Jammu and Kashmir from India. They also termed the highway ban barbaric and likened it with Israeli tactic of subjugation of Palestinians.
The authorities closed all intersections and passageways to halt any civilian movement coming from these routes, thus making the life of small traders fruit sellers and daily wagers miserable. In every market of Kashmir, fruit sellers and small-time traders were seen waiting for customers while some had closed their shops. Patients and students were the worst sufferers. Some students missed their exams and some could not reach their exam venues on time. Most of the students had to travel to Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir one day before for national level and other exams and had to stay in hotels. Though magistrates were deployed by the government to allow the specific persons to ply on road, however, this didn’t ease the sufferings of common man. Moreover, some civilians were beaten up for coming on the highway during the time of the ban.
The ban on civilian movement on highway traffic is a dark reminder about the circumstances the Kashmiris are living in. The suppression and subjugation of civilian population further indicate that the Indian authorities are not shying away from deploying tactics which Israel is using against Palestinians.
The closure of highways not only indicates the failure of the Indian government in winning the minds and hearts of common masses in Kashmir but also a failure to contain homegrown militancy. Militancy which is rising with each passing day as more and more young people are taking up arms. The civilian killings, draconian measures like PSA’s, NIA raids and denying of a democratic and free space to people to vent out their anger and put forth their aspirations have led to an increase in the number of young militants in the valley.
The recent order of closing down of highway for civilians twice a week and confining them to their houses is not going to bring peace in the already fragile atmosphere of the bruised valley. Rather it has deepened the alienation of Kashmiris from New Delhi and in a way exposed the hollowness of the Indian democracy. To turn a particular place into an open-air prison further exposes the vicious agenda of the present right-wing regime at New Delhi towards common Kashmiris who have seen enough misery and bloodshed in this decades-old armed conflict. It’s now up to the international authorities and world powers to look into this grave matter and provide a sense of relief to common Kashmiris.
This article was originally published here.