If All is Normal, Why Are We Caged? Kashmiris Ask, 30 Days Later

A month after complete lockdown in Kashmir, has normalcy really returned in the valley?

Kashmiris talk about the situation in the valley a month since the abrogation of Article 370.

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Vishal Kumar
Video Producer: Srishti Tyagi/Hera Khan

It's been a month since the Modi government's abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August forced a complete lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir with curfews, suspension of all means of communication and media restrictions. But has normalcy returned in the Valley?

To find out, The Quint reached out to several Kashmiris who say their ordeal is still continuing.

“It’s really depressing for students. It’s difficult for us to concentrate on our studies. We are sort of under house-arrest. We are not allowed to go out of our homes and communicate.”

Arooj Bhat, Kashmiri resident

A middle aged woman named Irfana said all the reports claiming that the the situation in Kashmir has returned to normalcy are incorrect. She complained that the phones are still not working.

“What is being shown is absolutely wrong. The phones aren’t working. They claim that landlines are functional but I ask, where? We are unable to connect with anyone. It’s being shown that we are sending messages to families. People are unwell in every household but one can buy medicines only when they have money. Have they ever thought how a labourer or a poor person will survive?”

Irfana, Kashmiri resident

“There is anxiety and depression among the youth,” said a young Kashmiri girl, Arooj Bhat.

“The Indian media is showing that there is nothing wrong in Kashmir. Everything is normal. People are happy with the scrapping of Article 35A. Government should remove communication blockade. The entire world will know what is actually happening in Kashmir and what Kashmiris want.”

“Every Kashmiri's blood is boiling because we have been caged,” said another young girl named Uroosa.

Javed, a middle-aged man, had to walk a long way with his pregnant wife to reach the hospital due to communication blockade.

“I have never voted. Who do I vote for? The leaders are not good here. When have they shown concern? They are just minting money. What have they done for the civilians? Nothing!”

Javed

A policeman in Kashmir who felt distressed about the situation people were going through said, "People have lost faith in India. If they had to revoke it, they should have spoken to the people and gotten their support."