Caught in encounter by Waqas Khan

Caught in encounter

by Waqas Khan

“Every second person in Kashmir has a story to narrate.” This was the last statement our teacher made in his lecture that day, March 18^th.... After the lecture finished, I and my classmates were given an assignment by our teacher to find a story on the road or to look for those ‘second’ persons who could narrate us a story. We as usual took more happiness in going out together then to find a story to submit as our assignment. We went to our well fixed Chai Walaa on Bund to have tea first. Long time before, the spot was decided to be a place to discuss issues of high significance like Kashmir conflict, geo politics, religion and so on… But, the meeting only served the purpose of stimulating our brains with tea; filling our bellies with samosas; and mostly jeering over our classmates’ peculiar attitudes.

After we finished tea we reluctantly scattered to find story for our assignment. I talked to many people but didn’t get any respond. Then I did realize how hard it is finding that ‘second person’ and I shouldn’t have taken teacher’s saying so religiously. I finally took some rest on an iron bench in Jehlum view Park at the Bund. There was another boy sitting on the same bench. I started talking to him and fortunately he was chatty. His name was Mohammad Arif. 28 years old. He was from Chadoora. He had a fistful of beard and trimmed moustache. His face had dark skin tone. He was robust. He was wearing dark blue jeans and hooded upper. He said that he deals with the sale and service of computers. I asked him directly in a weary tone, “Does he remember any incident related to conflict?” He said, “Many.”

I got my spiral note-book and Pen passionately as if I was induced with some steroid. He narrated a personal episode.

‘I would go to my friend’s house to relish some puffs of cancer. Their cowshed used to be a safe place for whipping cigarettes.’ He said it jokily, smoking a king-size Gold Flake cigarette.

He said, ‘It was early January in 2000 or late December 1999, when one of the fierce encounters, between the armed insurgents of Kashmir and Indian troops, stroke Wathoora in district Budgam. I was going to Mushtaq’s house for smoking cigarettes as usual. We spent the time together in the cowshed that day till noon. Mushtaq and I went back to his home for having food. When we entered into the house, we saw an armed man entering after us. He was a Kashmiri rebel. He asked for other exit. Mushtaq showed him the way through kitchen veranda. When he left we peeped through the window. We saw the Indian military forces were some 200 yards away. They were speedy in their moves. It took them no time to enter into the house. They yelled and started banging everything inside the house and left after some time. And after few turns of second hand of the clock, we heard a shot fired. We went upstairs eagerly to see the scene. It was appalling for us. I had never seen death of a person so close to my eyes. It was agonizing.

‘Few hours later we heard that the area had been cordoned by the army. The army had reliable information about the presence of few foreign and Kashmiri armed insurgents. It was 5 pm I remember; when around 30 civilians- mostly old men and children, were taken by the army out of their houses. Mushtaq and I were among them. We (30 civilians) were grouped then for their respective sets of forces. I and Mushtaq were put in different groups. Meanwhile, the others assemblage of troops had cordoned the whole village. It was a big village comprising of more than 300 houses. We were made a brilliant shield by army men. They would break into the houses bringing us in front. They used to tell us to recite something from the Qur’an or some Kalimah. They were sure that the insurgents would not kill us. And through our help they would come to know about the insurgent’s whereabouts to confront them easily.

‘After a while, I and an old man of that village were directed inside the house by army to search for the rebels. In one of the room, we saw a stout man with long beard reciting Holy Quran. I stammered to him that army had sent us to disclose their location. Even today, I can recollect that smile on brave man’s face. I can undoubtedly tell you that no one except those who love and fear their lord, have clean consciences have that charm. Meanwhile, I heard the old man sobbing. The beard man told him robustly that he should not fear death, ‘for death is not to be feared but to be accepted with a smile.’ He then told us to reveal the truth to the army men about him, for if we would not do it, they would even slaughter us. We did the same. He managed to escape from the house, but he was chased and killed

‘For next two days, we would only hear the sporadic gunshots, mine blasts and dreadful laments of women. My family informed me later that the troops provided media with incorrect information. As per the troops twelve houses were gutted instead of 94 and few cowsheds out of twenty.

‘Among my group mates, I was much close to captain Kathoj (from Punjab). He used to manage all our essentialities. He would tell our group that the act of armed insurgents was not courageous rather filled with cowardice, for when they have had insurgency in Punjab, the rebels used to send letters to forces to battle in the open grounds or fields, and not making common people shelter for them. I couldn’t ask him that time who is actually making us a shield?

‘The forth day of siege became terrible. Two young girls were shot dead when they went outside for the call of nature. Later it was reflected in media as a cross firing incident. When Siege was lifted on the forth day, I went to my home- a kilometer away from the scene. I remember I was caressed by family and the people of my village.’

Muhammad Arif was waiting for a person from J&K bank, whom he had to handover an Income Tax Report.