Militancy & Migrants <> Militancy affected People of Doda / Rajouri .. Udhampur / Kathua also bleed
Daya Sagar Sharma
April 18, 2011
In view of no proper registration the militancy affected / migrants from Jammu Region ( Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, even Kathua areas ) have not been able to avail of the concessions / support provided by GOI / other Indian states in the fields of education and employment like the Kashmir region migrants. Confusions and difficulties for providing just and equitable relief to the victims of terrorism has arisen as regards the people of Jammu Region because there is no clear definition of "migrant" or "displaced person". Prior to the advent of terrorism, there was no threat to their lives and property in the hills and they could freely move in deep forests / ravines. Now they can not. Terrorists started harassing them demanding food and other logistic services , to work for carrying their belongings and to guide them. There could be clear cases of migration or circumstances worth migration , induced or forced by terrorism and not of voluntarily shifting of residence. So there is just need to define ´migrant´ and ´displaced person´ in the context of militancy that J&K has. The victims of terrorism for relief purposes should not be simply limited to those who suffer direct physical assault or damage to their person or property.
It was on 9th March 2006 that National Conference MLC, Bashir Ahmad Naaz pleaded on the floor of J&K Legislative Council for granting migrant status ,like Kashmiri Pundit Migrants , to residents of Doda, Rajouri and Poonch who had been despite Court direction not treated fairly. The demands for relief like Kashmiri pundit migrants are still being raised even after 5 years .
Militancy had affected Jammu Region of J&K State in 1990 itself likethe Kashmir Valley. The immediately affected areas of Jammu province lied in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Banihal, upper reaches of Udhampur, Mohr, Marwah, remotes of Rajouri , Poonch and even Kathua.In Kashmir valley there has been very less rejection of the "separatist" ideologically in public & separatists feel there encouraged. Where as in Jammu region so far there has been no separatist leadership in the forefront. Neither have there been people questioning 1947 Accession nor that active groups demanding dilution of bonds between J&K and India. Many Locals due to their concern for community and some forced by their economic needs had / have joined Village Defence Committees (VDC) to resist the militants in Jammu region although very meagre monthly allowance is paid to them. As per some unofficial figures nearly 130 of VDC members & 500 SPOs ( subject to correction) have died.
Still people in other parts of the Country ( India ) believed that the terrorism was confined to Kashmir valley only and Jammu region was safe ; the general impression has been that only the Kashmiri (Hindus) were faced with compelling / unfair circumstances ; and general understanding has been that only Hindus and other non-muslims were targeted by terrorists and forced to migrate. Where as the fact is that the militancy affected areas of Jammu Region have very large muslim population and both Hindu & Muslim have been kidnapped, raped, brutally damaged bodily and killed in large number , in Rajouri / Poonch / Doda/ Udhampur districts .The people have suffered acute damages in education, business, employment , dairy, poultry etc etc. Several persons who were forced to abandon their normal place of residence or business because of terrorist threats or activities in the area are not being recognised as ´migrants´ or ´displaced persons´. Forced by indifferent attitude of the Relief Department ( Migrants) / State Government / GOI may be some people have not moved out to Jammu or to other safe places and stayed back in their area or just a few kilometers outside a deep remote / isolated village or even a small town. Even some who had migrated again returned back since it was the same difficult survival for them even outside since they were not cared by Government , even by NGOs.
Even muslims of the areas infected with terrorist / militant activities in Jammu Region (Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Kathua, Rajouri , Udhampur, and Poonch districts ) too are under constant material and social threats of the militants and local pressures due to anti insurgency operations by security forces. So the arguments that attempts are being made for clearing these area of only Hindu do not fit that much as regards Jammu region. The population of the nomads , gujjars / bakerwals ( majority follows muslim religion) , gaddies and the like is much more in Jammu region and they live / work in the remote distant hilly areas / forest .They are /have remained more exposed to physical and professional dangers from the militancy .No doubt the Hindu in some areas may be more distressed and scared. Some local Muslims may not come forward for the cause of non muslims or for moving out from the areas since they do not want to risk their safety by associating with non-Muslims against the wishes of the terrorists or have no hopes for better economic activity outside after migration from militancy hit areas.
It is true that migration can change demography of a area or there could be large scale undue exodus from the borders / militancy hit areas. But it is surely unfair to employ such logics and needs to only people of Jammu region and not to people of Kashmir Region. The Kashmiri migrants are out for 20 years , what does the world community think of this ? Some people are very much hurt with the discriminatory treatment given to the migrants / people under socio- economic threats as of Jammu region as compared to the migrants from the Kashmir valley .No doubt for ultimate solution to the problem / miseries of the local poor people ,the only lasting answer lies in establishing law and order, security, tranquility , confidence in the government , inter community faith, and proper environment for industry/ trade in the area. But till a beginning is made people can not be allowed to be butchered simply by saying them bravo . The victims and displaced persons cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for some thing good to happen.
May be for rehabilitation of affected people in Jammu Region , there would be a need to even go beyond what has been given to Kashmiri migrants who had good percentage of government servants as well as of professionally educated subjects worth securing alternates for survival and carrying their agony to the outside world. There lies no logic in making the poor distant people of Jammu region sacrifice their life, property and future simply arguing that eviction would help the " enemy desires ".
Earlier it was the case of POK DPs – Now it is the case of Victims of Migration in Jammu Region. Rather it could be said that the militancy affected areas of Jammu region have been discriminated even as regards medicating the wounds inflicted by militancy. Earlier also the distant and remote areas of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Kathua, Rajouri , Udhampur, and Poonch districts have been facing alround neglects from developmental / educational / tourism /economic angles and after 1990 now it is discrimination with the militancy affected people where a reasonably large number is of muslims who have still stood so firmly against militants and separatists.
(Daya Sagar is a Sr coloumnist of Kashmir affairs and a social activist dayasagr45@yahoo.com 9419796996)
It was on 9th March 2006 that National Conference MLC, Bashir Ahmad Naaz pleaded on the floor of J&K Legislative Council for granting migrant status ,like Kashmiri Pundit Migrants , to residents of Doda, Rajouri and Poonch who had been despite Court direction not treated fairly. The demands for relief like Kashmiri pundit migrants are still being raised even after 5 years .
Militancy had affected Jammu Region of J&K State in 1990 itself likethe Kashmir Valley. The immediately affected areas of Jammu province lied in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Banihal, upper reaches of Udhampur, Mohr, Marwah, remotes of Rajouri , Poonch and even Kathua.In Kashmir valley there has been very less rejection of the "separatist" ideologically in public & separatists feel there encouraged. Where as in Jammu region so far there has been no separatist leadership in the forefront. Neither have there been people questioning 1947 Accession nor that active groups demanding dilution of bonds between J&K and India. Many Locals due to their concern for community and some forced by their economic needs had / have joined Village Defence Committees (VDC) to resist the militants in Jammu region although very meagre monthly allowance is paid to them. As per some unofficial figures nearly 130 of VDC members & 500 SPOs ( subject to correction) have died.
Still people in other parts of the Country ( India ) believed that the terrorism was confined to Kashmir valley only and Jammu region was safe ; the general impression has been that only the Kashmiri (Hindus) were faced with compelling / unfair circumstances ; and general understanding has been that only Hindus and other non-muslims were targeted by terrorists and forced to migrate. Where as the fact is that the militancy affected areas of Jammu Region have very large muslim population and both Hindu & Muslim have been kidnapped, raped, brutally damaged bodily and killed in large number , in Rajouri / Poonch / Doda/ Udhampur districts .The people have suffered acute damages in education, business, employment , dairy, poultry etc etc. Several persons who were forced to abandon their normal place of residence or business because of terrorist threats or activities in the area are not being recognised as ´migrants´ or ´displaced persons´. Forced by indifferent attitude of the Relief Department ( Migrants) / State Government / GOI may be some people have not moved out to Jammu or to other safe places and stayed back in their area or just a few kilometers outside a deep remote / isolated village or even a small town. Even some who had migrated again returned back since it was the same difficult survival for them even outside since they were not cared by Government , even by NGOs.
Even muslims of the areas infected with terrorist / militant activities in Jammu Region (Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Kathua, Rajouri , Udhampur, and Poonch districts ) too are under constant material and social threats of the militants and local pressures due to anti insurgency operations by security forces. So the arguments that attempts are being made for clearing these area of only Hindu do not fit that much as regards Jammu region. The population of the nomads , gujjars / bakerwals ( majority follows muslim religion) , gaddies and the like is much more in Jammu region and they live / work in the remote distant hilly areas / forest .They are /have remained more exposed to physical and professional dangers from the militancy .No doubt the Hindu in some areas may be more distressed and scared. Some local Muslims may not come forward for the cause of non muslims or for moving out from the areas since they do not want to risk their safety by associating with non-Muslims against the wishes of the terrorists or have no hopes for better economic activity outside after migration from militancy hit areas.
It is true that migration can change demography of a area or there could be large scale undue exodus from the borders / militancy hit areas. But it is surely unfair to employ such logics and needs to only people of Jammu region and not to people of Kashmir Region. The Kashmiri migrants are out for 20 years , what does the world community think of this ? Some people are very much hurt with the discriminatory treatment given to the migrants / people under socio- economic threats as of Jammu region as compared to the migrants from the Kashmir valley .No doubt for ultimate solution to the problem / miseries of the local poor people ,the only lasting answer lies in establishing law and order, security, tranquility , confidence in the government , inter community faith, and proper environment for industry/ trade in the area. But till a beginning is made people can not be allowed to be butchered simply by saying them bravo . The victims and displaced persons cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for some thing good to happen.
May be for rehabilitation of affected people in Jammu Region , there would be a need to even go beyond what has been given to Kashmiri migrants who had good percentage of government servants as well as of professionally educated subjects worth securing alternates for survival and carrying their agony to the outside world. There lies no logic in making the poor distant people of Jammu region sacrifice their life, property and future simply arguing that eviction would help the " enemy desires ".
Earlier it was the case of POK DPs – Now it is the case of Victims of Migration in Jammu Region. Rather it could be said that the militancy affected areas of Jammu region have been discriminated even as regards medicating the wounds inflicted by militancy. Earlier also the distant and remote areas of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Kathua, Rajouri , Udhampur, and Poonch districts have been facing alround neglects from developmental / educational / tourism /economic angles and after 1990 now it is discrimination with the militancy affected people where a reasonably large number is of muslims who have still stood so firmly against militants and separatists.
(Daya Sagar is a Sr coloumnist of Kashmir affairs and a social activist dayasagr45@yahoo.com 9419796996)
Print
Email
