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| Killing spree triggers migration from Sopore | | | Early Times Report
Sopore, June 15: Amid four mysterious killings within a week -sixth within 22 days -fear is palpable in this apple town of north Kashmir even as many of those scared of the recent rise in bloodshed have started migrating to "safer heavens".
Even as the scared town was mourning the three deaths, gunmen whose identity could not be ascertained struck again and snatched yet another life. This time the victim was Aijaz Ahmad Reshi son of Abdul Rahim Reshi of Mundji, Sopore.
Reshi's killing further angered the people and scores took to streets to condemn the gruesome attacks.
Amid the scare, the people especially the former militants are on the run. "I have left Sopore and will try to live elsewhere till situation improves," said a former militant who had surrendered before security forces in '90s. "I have no relation with militancy and earn a livelihood from running a small shop… I fail to understand why people like me are being killed," he said.
Apprehending similar attacks, non-locals working in the town are also on the run. A mason from Bihar who annually visits the town to earn livelihood said he has also left Sopore and that he would look for livelihood elsewhere. "We have heard that militants could attack us as well so why to risk life," said his colleague, a laborer from Uttar Pradesh.
Apart from former militants and non-locals, many other people have also migrating. A TATA Sumo driver said since Monday morning he ferried over half a dozen families to the summer capital of Srinagar.
The killings have left people frightened. First Altaf ul Rahman was gunned down by unidentified gunmen. Then they killed Khurshid Ahmad Bhat. Another civilian, Mairaj ul din Dar was killed only yesterday while Aijaz Ahmad Reshi was the latest target. Prior to this spree, two persons dealing with mobile communication were shot dead. A police official asking not to be named confirmed that people are panicked and running for cover. "It's a very precarious situation and everyone feels insecure," the official admitted.
While the separatist leaders have accused the "Indian secret agencies" of being responsible for the killings, the government looks at the killings as the handiwork of new militant outfits, which recently surfaced in north Kashmir.
As per police officials these could be the militants who have separated from Hizbul Mujahideen led by Syed Salah Ud Din to form separate outfits. Till now names of two such outfits have surfaced: Lashkar-e-Islam and the Tehreek-e-Taliban.
It all started in May with attack on mobile communication network. In the first week of May, posters in the name of Lashkar-e-Islam surfaced warning those associated with mobile communication network to close down their ventures. Though initially people took things lightly, grenade attacks on mobile towers and subsequent killing of two people dealing with the telecom business proved a turning point.
Though separatist leaders particularly Syed Ali Geelani accused the "Indian secret agencies" of being behind the killings, within day militants reacted with another attack on mobile tower: This time in Srinagar. A day later, Lashkar-e-Islam publicly rebuked Geelani and United Jehad Council Chief Syed Salah Ud Din.
In a statement published in Srinagar dailies, the Lashkar -e-Islam said they were not any agents but Mujahideen. The outfit said it would not allow mobile communication to progress pleading that it had proved detrimental for existence of militancy. While people were discussing credentials of Lashkar-e-Islam, Tehreek-e-Taliban surfaced and warned the non-locals to leave Kashmir. The petrol pumps on the other hand have been warned not to sell fuel to security forces. |
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