Burhan Wani’s death anniversary to clash with Amarnath yatra, Protests feared

In Kashmir valley, death anniversaries are always a fraught time. Protests peak at this time. February 9 and February 11 are two such days.
February 9 is observed as death anniversary of Mohammed Afzal Guru, who was hanged for his role in the Parliament attack while February 11 is death anniversary of JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat. Bhat was hanged in the Tihar jail in 1984 after he was found guilty of killing an Indian intelligence official in England. Despite the many years that have passed, there is a complete shutdown and violence on his death anniversary every year.
And now July 8, the death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. He was killed in 2016 during a joint operation by security forces in south Kashmir’s Bundoora village in Kokernag area.
Security forces have expressed their apprehension that another date has been added to the calendar. As the date falls in the midst of the Amarnath yatra season, the Hindu pilgrimage may become further tense every year.
Yatra, this year, has been cut short by 8 days. The 40-day yatra will commence from June 29 and will be held in highly charged environment — a month after Hizbul terrorist Sabzar Bhat’s death and about a week before Burhan Wani’s death anniversary.
Last year, after Wani’s killing, the yatra was severely disrupted and many yatris found themselves caught in the turbulence. Pilgrims had to be evacuated from Srinagar at night, with convoys of paramilitary forces escorting them all the way to Jammu.
“This year we have to chalk out new strategies to ensure that the yatra is not affected,” a senior police official said, adding, “We will have to keep our eyes and ears open.”
More than 27,000 personnel will be deployed to secure this year’s yatra.
He also accepted that with already volatile situation in valley Amarnath yatra is already a big challenge for the forces and now with Wani’s death anniversary, it’s going to get tougher.
Meanwhile, the Home Secretary himself held a meeting to review security of pilgrims. More than 27,000 personnel will be deployed to secure this year’s yatra.
“There are equal threats from terrorists and stone-pelters. All threats are being taken care of,” Ashok Prasad, advisor in the Home Ministry, told reporters last week.
According to J&K Police records, among the 282 militants active in the Valley, 112 are from south Kashmir. And 99 of these 112 militants here are “local”. Local estimates say there are at least 20 more in the “local” count, with some yet to declare their affiliation and new recruitment reported almost every week.
“The yatra will start around the time when the violence in the valley will complete one full year of clashing with security forces. These youth-led protests seem to ve beyond the control of any political affiliation. And how these mobs behave around Burhan’s death anniversary is the biggest fear for the jawans on the ground,” the police official said.
“All that’s required is for one among the mob to call for attacks on the Yatris and that could lead to a serious situation,” he added.