Kashmir still on the boil over terror mastermind

SRINAGAR: Protests related to Mohammed Afzal continue in Kashmir but not every protestor demands presidential pardon or clemency. Some protests are purely in solidarity with the man waiting for the gallows, and now some people say if Afzal is hanged despite remaining unrepresented in the entire trial, it should be “an honour for him”.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Kashmir’s inflexible separatist has been the only top leader saying that Afzal’s guilt is yet to be proved. On Monday, he told a seminar, the mainstream and the doves in separatist camp have resorted to emotional exploitation of the masses. “Political hypocrites too are raising their voices in support of Mohammed Afzal. Whether he (Afzal) is hanged or not, we as Muslims have to remain happy and be content in both the cases”, he told the seminar. However, Geelani insisted that the people must continue the protests because “it (Afzal’s capital punishment) is part of our history”.

The seminar — Mohammed Afzal, Hero of Our Resistance Movement — was organised by Muslim League, an outfit that is part of Geelani led Hurriyat. Masarat Aalam, its leader said Afzal’s courage of not signing the clemency request is “a slap on their (moderate Hurriyat leaders) flexible and moderate faces”. He added: “I am not protesting for the release of Mohammed Afzal. What an honour for him to get hanged after Fajr (wee hour) prayers following holy Shab-e-Qadr and last Friday of Ramazan.” Mian Qayoom, who heads the bar association in the high court told the well-attended seminar that Afzal was denied a fair trial from the very beginning.

Protests over the issue continue. On Monday, Dukhteran-e-Milat organised a symbolic protest. The veiled women were carrying placards saying Afzal’s death sentence is “a shame for India” and “India’s democracy and judiciary were a farce”.

Given the way, the atmosphere is getting highly charged with every passing day, former chief minister Farooq Abdullah has joined his colleagues in demanding pardon for Afzal.

In a statement that would further complicate Azad’s situation, Dr Abdullah suggested Azad to lead a delegation to President A P J Abdul Kalam.

“‘I strongly believe that hanging Afzal will provide no solution. Instead, it will disturb the ongoing peace process. I have assured full support to Azad. If he leads us, we can jointly approach the President to seek mercy for Afzal”.

Not withstanding the situation and popular mood prevailing at the national level, the entire mainstream camp is a disturbed lot. “We hanged Maqbool Bhat and it lead to over 50,000 killings. We should avoid in making another hero like this”, one senior mainstream leader told ET. “Actually situation is leading towards this as entire separatist camp is working to create a hero”, he added.