Fighting leaves trail of destruction for Kashmiri families
Syed Ali Safvi
Press TV, Indian-administered Kashmir
The holy month of Ramadan draws to an end and people across the world are gearing up to celebrate Eid al-Fitr quietly with their family members at home amid the global pandemic.
But Ghulam Mohammad and his neighbors have no idea how their families will celebrate the Eid. On Tuesday, at least 15 houses, including that of Ghulam Mohammad, were destroyed in a gunfight between Indian forces and pro-independence fighters in Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital.
Two armed fighters, including an MBA graduate-turned-militant commander, were killed in the gun battle. A 12-year-old boy who was injured in a house collapse also succumbed to injuries later.
Over the past few years, residential houses have become collateral damage in gun battles. Government forces have targeted a number of civilian homes, sometimes blown them up with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in order to kill holed-up armed fighters, thereby rendering countless families shelterless. In many cases, family members have accused the forces of loot and plunder.
Police officials say the houses harboring militants are targeted and rest of the houses destroyed in the gun battle are collateral damage.
The displaced families have no hope of proper compensation from the government. In absence of government help, locals come forward to help the distressed families. They collect donations to rebuild their houses.
This year’s Ramadan in Kashmir has been one of the bloodiest in the recent past. A number of Indian forces, pro-independence fighters and civilians have been killed since April 25, the day the holy month began.
Gunfights in Kashmir continue to leave behind destroyed homes and devastated families. The visible trail of destruction here in the heart of the region's capital city, Srinagar, means this year's Eid could hardly get the displaced families into a festive mood.
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