The government is holding an all-important meeting on February 3 to decide the fate of the Panchayat polls being held from February 15. The meeting is being chaired by the minister for rural development department Abdul Haq Khan. However, the opposition parties which want Mehbooba to head the meeting also want the polls deferred as the situation is not right for it. The opposition couldn’t have been more correct. The situation in the Valley has progressively deteriorated and the recent encounter at Shopian and its still unfolding fallout underscores it. Four civilians have lost their lives since Saturday’s encounter which killed two militants. If anything, it underlines how little the situation has changed over the past year. This is despite the fact that 218 militants were killed in 2017 – the highest number in the last seven years. But this has made little difference to the number of the militants in Valley. Local recruitment and the infiltration has ensured that the number of active militants in the Valley remains more or less what it was in the beginning of the last year.
People still run to rescue militants when they are tracked down by the security. And the militant funerals are still massively participated. In fact, several funeral prayers continue to be offered for every slain militant. What is more, the politicians can’t travel freely in the Valley nor organize a public meeting. In such a situation, to even think of holding an election is not a great idea. And that too a Panchayat poll which involves a deeper grassroots involvement of the people. More so, when the bitter experience of the last year’s Assembly by-poll is still fresh in mind.
Eight people had lost their lives resisting the by-election in Srinagar constituency, the highest toll ever in the state on a polling day in a single constituency. The deaths took place as the security personnel at the polling booths tried to fend off the advancing crowds of protesters. This forced the government to defer the South Kashmir by-poll which was scheduled to take place shortly after Srinagar by-election. And ever since the government is yet to make up its mind about the Anantnag poll.
There is every apprehension that a similar scenario could unfold once the panchayat polls get underway. More so, in South Kashmir which has emerged as the hub of the Valleys resurgent separatism.
While militancy is less in Central Kashmir and low-profile in North, the anger and alienation is no less. Much like South Kashmir, security forces have had to battle protesting crowds of people before killing a trapped militant. In fact, of all the places, it was by far the most peaceful area of Budgam where the people threw their lives on the line to resist the parliamentary by-poll. This makes the upcoming exercise fraught in nature. It can see violence go up sharply. Many more killings can take place. So, the state government needs to tread cautiously. If the situation goes wrong and leads to bloodshed, the government will have only itself to blame.