Kashmir's unending lockdown
To combat the Coronavirus, the entire country has been under lockdown for the last two months, but the lockdown has hardly been of any help to stop the community spread of the virus. It has, however, wrecked economic havoc in the life of the common man with the country finding itself in social and economic shambles. Further, using the lockdown as a pretext, the police brazenly committed atrocities against the common man which was reported widely in the media. The country needs at least one or two years to recover from the impact of the lockdown.
Before the lockdown was imposed across the country, Kashmir – an integral part of India – had already been in lockdown for six months. Other than Kashmir, the entire country celebrated the imposition of lockdown in Kashmir almost as if we had gained freedom. The six-month lockdown in the state seriously impinged on the rights of Kashmiris to lead their normal lives. For the rest of the country to experience how lockdown, curfew, and restrictions can suffocate and snuff the life out of people, the Coronavirus had to enter the country.
Today, let alone winning the war over Coronavirus, we have only succeeded in spreading it across the country and are now standing empty-handed having lost everything in the process. In this dire situation, we should not, however, forget the fact that Kashmir will soon complete one year in lockdown. We should ask ourselves some important questions about how successful the attempt has been to take over Kashmir through the might of the military and to what extent has the life of Kashmiris improved after annulling Article 370 and during the military lockdown. On August 5, 2019, Article 370 that gave special status to Kashmir was annulled and the state was divided as the Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.
Through these measures, a popular impression was created that Kashmir has been completely integrated into India. The Centre insisted that with the removal of Article 370, a huge block impeding democracy and development in Kashmir had eased off. At the same time, the country celebrated that Kashmir was also finally emotionally integrated with India. But, even after one year, Kashmir is being unofficially ruled by the military and Kashmiris are in a state of desperation after losing their rights and having been in lockdown for a year. Their lives have been further battered with the onslaught of the Coronavirus.
Leaders of Kashmir’s mainstream political parties have been in jail during this time. Not just that, opposition party leaders in Delhi have been denied permission to enter Kashmir. These actions show that after Article 370 was annulled, the gulf between Kashmir and India has only increased. The actions of the government to instill confidence in the people of Kashmir are also very disappointing. According to a report, as of 2020, farmers, businessmen, merchants, and farm laborers are battling feelings of shame, disgrace, deception, and helplessness. The number of people opposing the annulment of Article 370 is also increasing. For the elders of Kashmir, Article 370 was not merely a provision of the Constitution but also a symbol of their confidence in the administration. The annulment of Article 370 has not dented the political philosophy of extremists in the Kashmir valley in any way, rather it has handed over a powerful weapon for the extremists to take control of the common man. The government’s action is turning out to be a deeply wrenched wound. The most dangerous development, if one were to call it that, is the behavior of the mainstream political parties that have become rather dull and insipid with extremist organizations using the opportunity and trying hard to take their place.
The government’s belief that the annulment of Article 370 would stop the interference of Pakistan in Kashmir has also been proven wrong. The battle between extremists and the army has further intensified and the number of army personnel stationed in Kashmir has increased manifold. Even as the government is handling Pakistan’s interference, the relations with China and Nepal have also nosedived, which has further strengthened Pakistan’s position.
A small country like Nepal is raking up the border issue while China is repeatedly violating India’s border and trying to take control over Ladakh. Indian soldiers have already paid the price for Chinese incursion in Ladakh. The decision the government took in Kashmir has also resulted in escalating tensions with Nepal and China over the borders with clouds of war hovering around us. It has also opened up the possibilities of China encouraging extremism in Kashmir. Kashmir emerging out of the army stranglehold appears bleak. The way the situation in Kashmir has been handled has been a serious setback for India. We might have succeeded in legally integrating Kashmir through the annulment of Article 370 but till people of Kashmir are embraced and accepted wholeheartedly, Kashmir cannot be truly ours.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
