Funerals Of ‘terrorists’ Leading The Youth Of Indian Kashmir To Terrorism

So, first of all, WHY THIS QUESTION? 

• According to me, this question has some grounds and incidents behind it to stand on. 
• Such major incident is of 8th July 2016, when ‘Burhan Wani’, the commander of an armed separatist Kashmir based organization  ‘Hizb-ul-mujahideen’ was neutralized by the Indian security forces, and this incident was followed by 8 straight months of unrest till Feb 2017  in the valley, also known as ‘Burhan aftermath’. 
• From 8th July 2016 to Feb 2017, the whole Kashmir valley witnessed a total shutdown for 8 months. 
• From the government’s side, curfews were imposed, internet services were snatched ‘ all sort of communication was cut off, thousands of people were detained and heavy troop deposition was made in the valley. 
• Meanwhile, the streets of Kashmir witnessed huge and frequent protests accompanied by stone-pelting, candle marches, and resistive slogans. 
• To suppress the protestors, the Indian government approved and the Indian forces used Pellet guns which left hundreds and thousands of Kashmiri people blind for the rest of their lives. 
• The situation worsened to such an extent that the UN  interfered and expressed its concern over the situation in Kashmir and offered to mediate a meeting between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir situation. 
• Some foreign delegations also sought permission from the Indian government to visit Kashmir and analyze the ground situation in Kashmir but the Government of India rejected stating that India won’t let any ‘third party’  interfere in its ‘internal matters’. 
• As the ‘Burhan Wani aftermath’ was on rising, Kashmir was all over surrounded and submerged in chaos and politics which resulted in more local youngsters putting up to guns. 
• Since then, Indian security forces have launched many operations and missions to eradicate all armed people like Burhan Wani and there is no going back till now. 
• In these 5 years, Kashmir has witnessed many encounters and funerals of ‘terrorists’  who are locally known as ‘Mujahids’. 
• And every funeral unleashes a rage of resistance within the Kashmiri people especially youngsters. 
• But, the funerals of ‘Mujahids’ are not the only reason or a major reason that is leading Kashmiri youth to pick up guns. 
• To support this narrative, let’s take an example, 
• Recently, on 27th July 2021,  
• A 22-year-old Kashmiri bodybuilder named Meeran Ali was shot dead amidst the daylight, few yards away from his SUV when he was going to appear for his exams. 
• Though he was shot by an unknown gunman, still at his funeral, the same slogans were chanted that generally come to voice at the funeral of a ‘Mujahid’ or when someone loses their life to the gunpoints of the Government authorities. 
• We came to see the reflection of Burhan Wani’s funeral in Meeran’s one. 
• During the ‘Burhan Wani aftermath’  and at his funeral, the slogan “Burhan Tere Khoon se Inquilab Aaega”  meaning “O Burhan! Your blood will give rise to the revolution”  was echoing throughout the valley and on Meeran’s funeral, the same slogan was again raised stating “Meeran Tere Khoon se Inquilab Aaega”  meaning “O Meeran ! Your blood will give rise to the revolution”. 
• In Meeran’s  case, police-reported that this incident was a result of ‘gang rivalry’  between two local gangs among which Meeran  was a part one namely ‘Gujjar gang’  
• Later on, an armed separatist organization namely TRF [ the resistance front ] allegedly claimed to have killed Meeran, stating that he was into drug smuggling and stuff. 
• Either way, Meeran’s case was not like any other ‘Mujahid’ or a civilian who lost their life to Indian authorities.  
• But still, at Meeran’s funeral, the reaction, the rage, the outburst, the protests, and the ambition of the people were the same as it was at Burhan Wani’s funeral. 

WHY?  

•  Because according to my, the funerals of the Kashmiri people, whether ‘Mujahids’, civilians, or any others, provides a kind of spark, prick, or a moment to the Kashmiri people especially youngsters which unleashes the rage, agony, and resistance in them which they carry all along. 
• Thus the funerals of ‘terrorists’ or ‘Mujahids’  in particular aren’t leading the Kashmiri youngsters towards rebellion. 
• Instead, it is the resistance and discords that always remain unanswered, unsolved, and avoided at the ground level. 
• The Indian Government needs not only to launch ‘Operation all Outs’  but they have to see the actual cause of the resistance which Kashmiri people especially youngsters are enduring that actually leads the Kashmiri youth to pick up guns. 
• The Govt. of India has to look into the matter at the ground level. 
• A “Mujahid’s”  active timeline is just a week or so on average after choosing to pick up a gun, 
•  then why are more and more youngsters proceeding towards it? 
•  Is a mere funeral enough to turn into an activity that is actually apparently equal to suicide?    
• The ‘funeral issue’  to me is superficial. 
• Meanwhile, the resistance and discords that exist in the people of  Kashmir especially youngsters need to be addressed, understood, and resolved at the ground level.