Not much has changed, it seems, since the summer of 2010, when young Kashmiri protesters took to the streets and hurled stones at army soldiers. It was a unique protest, not just because a stone was used to express anger and anguish but also the demographic profile of the protesters took everyone by surprise, for they included young graduates, doctors and engineers who were enraged at years of injustice and complete denial by Delhi.
The year 2016 marks six years since 2010; six years since Kashmir witnessed a violent civil unrest. The protagonists of the latest protests are once again young stone-pelters, braving bullets and deadly pellets of the security forces. So far, more than 52 civilians have lost lives and over 3,700 have been injured, following the weekly protest calendars notified by united Hurriyat leaders.
The Quint visited areas that witnessed heavy stone pelting, like downtown Srinagar, Nowgam, Batamaloo and Bemina in Srinagar city to talk to the young people and understand why they risk their lives and what motivates them to do so.