After reports of an attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag spread in Hindu-dominated areas, 42-year-old Nawab Reshi and his family made an overnight journey from Jammu to his home in North Kashmir.
Reshi feared that miscreants may take advantage of the situation and thought it best to safely reach his home as soon as possible.
I am not worried about the situation, but when you have a family you cannot take risks.Nawab Reshi, Resident, Baramulla district
Reshi works in a private company in the state’s winter capital Jammu.
Fear Has Gripped Minority Groups Anew
Reshi said that he is pretty sure that the people in Jammu, being peace-loving, would not harm their fellow beings. Having said this, he added that a strange kind of fear gripped him this time.
I have been in Jammu for the past twelve years and have never witnessed any communal disharmony, except some stray incidents in rural areas. The people here are highly tolerant and understand the difference between right and wrong.Nawab Reshi, Resident, Baramulla district
Reshi added, “So without wasting any time, I made an overnight journey with my wife and two daughters.”
For 56-year old Habibullah, it was difficult to manage things. Being a government employee he could not leave the city. Habibullah’s elder daughter told him that some people from Jammu were abusing Muslims on social media.
My family is with me, as schools in Kashmir are closed for vacation. The minute the news about the attack on the Amarnath pilgrims was flashed on television, we sensed trouble.Habibullah, government servant living in Jammu
He narrated, “I knew it would be difficult for me to travel back home, so I requested one of my family friends to drive my family to Kashmir. I also advised them not to take the Udhampur route and to take Mughal road instead.” Habibullah said that his family left for Kashmir at 11:30 pm, and added:
I regret my decision to send them home in a panic.
Fear Psychosis Turns Notional
Not only did people from Kashmir move back to their homes, but many members of the minority community from Jammu’s hilly areas also preferred to stay home after some Hindu organisations called for a bandh (shutdown).
The situation in Jammu is grim and people with ill intentions will surely take advantage of it. Many Hindu organisations had called for a shutdown in solidarity with the deceased pilgrims.Tariq Sajad, Banihal-based businessman
He said that every sane person had condemned the incident, and added:
I don’t fear individuals, but when individuals take the shape of a mob, you cannot make them understand... I moved back to my place, which is dominated by Muslims only to ensure the safety of my family.Tariq Sajad, Banihal-based businessman
Protests Against Pakistan
However, the fear psychosis among members of the minority community turned notional. Jammu observed a shutdown, but no untoward incident was reported and no member from any community was harassed.
We expressed our dissent against the incident of violence and members of every community participated in it. Those people who had apprehensions of any kind, must remain assured that Jammu belongs to every community irrespective of religion. This protest and shutdown was not against Kashmiris, Muslims or any other community. It was strongly against Pakistan and terrorism.Shiv Sena activist
Meanwhile, a senior police officer said the force ensured the safety of all communities in Jammu. “Soon after the news spread, Internet was blocked in Jammu and proper security arrangements were made at important pockets, especially around vulnerable areas,” said the Jammu-based Senior Police Officer
It is pertinent to mention here that at least seven pilgrims, including five women, were killed when militants attacked a bus carrying Amarnath yatris at Butangu area of Anantnag in South Kashmir on Monday.
(The writer is a Srinagar-based journalist and a researcher. He tweets at @psbali200. This is a personal blog and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)
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