FALSE BRAVADO
Suhail felt the pat on his back which reduced his numbness to some extent. Zafar sahib was ecstatic… his teeth shining in the ambient light of the dingy room in a basement which was going to be Suhail’s home for coming few weeks.
“Wallah….kya karnama kiya hai….wah…” Zafar sahib kissed Suhail’s head. He said a few more encouraging things to Suhail which he did not comprehend. He sat there, still and thoughtless, long after Zafar sahib had left.
As the adrenaline settled, he started to think clearly. He had passed his test…he had been able to carry out the allotted task….he had killed a policeman….he should be happy, he told himself.
He lighted the lantern and the room filled with light…he noticed his hands were still shaking. He stretched on the makeshift bed and started to stare at the ceiling.
“Why don’t I feel happy?” He wondered.
He re-enacted the scene of his actions in his mind like a film…..and started to feel dejected. He had shot an unarmed policeman…..that too in the back.
The night went by with Suhail twisting and turning in the bed. He slipped into a shallow snooze early morning. He was woken up by Zafar sahib who had got tea and biscuits for him.
“Mubarak….he is confirmed dead.” Zafar sahib announced proudly. The cup of tea almost slipped from Suhail’s hand as he heard it.
“Arre kya hua ? Tumko toh khush hona chahiye….Kafir mar gaya…” Zafar sahib said triumphantly.
“But Zafar sahib, he was a Muslim…”
“He was collaborating with Kafirs so he too became Kafir….” Zafar sahib claimed.
“Zafar sahib…” Suhail was about to start an argument on this weird explanation of the term ‘Kafir’ but held himself back. There was no point; Zafar sahib had explanation for everything.
“He had been involved in killing Kashmiris……” Zafar sahib added weight to his argument.
“Yes…you told me Zafar sahib. How many people had he killed?” Suhail wanted some solace.
“Does it matter?” Zafar sahib said.
“Was he directly involved in killings?” Suhail asked.
“Again…does it matter? What matters is that you did a great job….” Zafar sahib tried to sound euphoric but Suhail’s mind was playing the words again and again – ‘innocent’, ‘unarmed’, ‘Kashmiri’, ‘Muslim’, ‘family man’, ‘shot in the back’…..
At two locations in the Valley, the scenes were grim…shattered dreams, bereavement, sadness, anger, frustration, helplessness, unanswered questions, broken dreams, stunted hopes. Life will never be the same for the wailing loved ones of the martyrs.
It is clear that the terrorist groups are frustrated with the positive developments in Kashmir. The existing peace, successful elections, development works, enthusiasm seen during Republic Day celebrations, successful visit of the European Union delegation, opening of the 4G network etc. In their frustration, they killed two unarmed policemen shooting them in the back. While they may claim success, people in large numbers have condemned these as cowardly acts. People have expressed sympathy towards the families of policemen who lost their lives. Social media platforms too were abuzz with similar sentiments. One post says – KASHMIRIS KILLING KASHMIRIS FOR KASHMIR. Indeed a profound statement.
What did these killings achieve? They are not remotely connected with Jehad, nor were these acts of revenge. Kashmiris have to understand that it is not the question of who gets killed. The deeper problem is that the demon of violence has made its place in the society. This demon cannot differentiate between right or wrong, Kashmiri or non-Kashmiri, Muslim or non-Muslim, man or woman, uniform or civil dress…it just obeys its master. So those who did not condemn firing on a restaurant owner the other day but condemned the killing of policemen or vice-versa have to wake up. Every type of violence is bad, reprehensible and condemnable. Otherwise this demon’s next target will be one of us.
The likes of Suhail will have to understand that killing a fellow human being is not jehad….no bravado…no ticket to jannat…..if someone says so, he is lying.
Qatal se agar jannat milti toh yeh kaynaat ab tak khatam ho jati , Jannat mein hoti bheer bahut aur insaniyat kabki khatam ho jati.
