Afzal Guru the
prime accused of December 2001's parliament attacks was hangedon feb 9th
2013.As expected the national media and politicians welcomed the hanging of the dreaded terrorist but just after the hanging
the curfew was imposed in most parts of the valley.So,a major question remains
will the hanging of Guru lead to same events that unfolded after the hanging of
Maqbool Butt.
Maqbool
Butt was co-founder of JKLF.He was charged for murder of an Indian intelligence officer
and was sentenced to death for the crime.Butt was hanged on feb 11,1984.
Hanging
of butt influenced the alienated youth of Kashmir to join armed militant group
for armed struggle against Indian state which continued for three decades.
Kashmir
has seen relative peace for past few years,tourism is back in valley,trade has
started but one should never forget that peace is fragile in valley still a
change in attitude can be seen in the youth and especially in the attitude of
separatist,apart from Syed Ali Shah Geelani no major separatist leader has
pro-militant inclination most of them are willing to negotiate with the
government of India.
The
kashmiri youth of 2013 can't be compared to that of 1984 but major moves should
be made for
assimilation of them in main stream of the country as they are the prime
targets of militant groups.
Hanging
of Guru is also seen as an change in the way the judicial mechanism and
political class of
the country moves towards curbing terrorism.Hanging
of Guru is the second hanging in past few months which is significant for a country that hanged only one person in past
decade.But this stand will be legitimized if terrorist killers of former PM
Rajiv Gandhi,CM of Punjab Beant Singh will be dealt with same manner,which also will be an answer to people who see a
particular religion or colour in terrorism.
Afzal
Guru's hanging show tough stance of Indian state towards terrorism but one
should cautiously monitor the situation in Kashmir and make sure that youth of
Kashmir doesn't alienate which can fuel militancy.
