In the aftermath of Burhan Wani’s death, the valley of Kashmir is up in flames as bullets and pellets cascade into the ongoing bloodbath. For Kashmir, this seems to be a return to something devastatingly familiar. The bloodbath is not new.
In a series of editorials and opinion pieces, in Jammu and Kashmir’s English language paper Greater Kashmir, contributors lamented the violence and death in the valley.
“Kashmir is back to square one. Mayhem, killings, blood soaked streets, battered bodies, curfews and protests. The return of chaotic deafening days, silent sobbing nights, the inauspicious summer and the same heart piercing wails of mothers. Gloom is in the air, charged are the emotions and the old story is unraveling exactly frame over the frame,” reads an opinion piece titled ‘Back to Square One’.
Another editorial titled ‘Grave Concern‘ implored the government “to act fast to stop the use of lethal force against unarmed protesters.”
While most of the national media held Burhan Wani as the poster boy for Hizbul Mujahideen, the local media in Kashmir also captured the sentiment of the people in the valley, as thousands attended Wani’s funeral.
Another editorial in The Kashmir Monitor called out the Centre on its policy on Kashmir.
“Meet separatists once in a decade. Ask them for ideas and ignore them when they come back with policy documents ...” read the piece.
The overwhelming reportage from the valley seems to reflect unarmed protesters are being attacked by police and the state authorities.
The headlines seem to conjure an image of the prevailing violence in the valley.
The Mirror of Kashmir collated powerful images of the aftermath of the encounter.
‘When will it stop?’ seems to be the sentiment most publications and editorials echoed.
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