A complete insensitivity towards the sufferings of the people has virtually imprisoned entire seven million population of Kashmir valley. On Saturday, much before learning about execution of Muhammad Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail in wee  hours people found themselves jailed in their own homes with all communication links to the outside world snapped. With thousands of helmeted and gun-toting paramilitary troops deployed in   small and big towns and razor and barbered wire barricades raised everywhere, the valley has been turned into a wartime garrison.  During the past ninety-six hours, there has been no relaxation in curfew restrictions in any part of the valley causing innumerable hardships to the people.  Most of the families have exhausted their stores and are suffering for essentials of life. Children    and patients are worst hit. It is disturbing to note that the authorities intend to continue the curfew restriction for next five days. Continued curfew can cost the lives of scores of patients’ dependent on life-saving drugs. The apathetic administration has not so far even set up a control room or evolved a mechanism for providing some succor to people in distress more particularly the patients and women in family way. It is unfortunate that the state administration has not learnt anything from the experiences. Keeping in view   the fragile political situation of the state   by now it should have evolved a foolproof mechanism to cope up with such emergent situations. If the sleepy administration is not able to provide any relief to the suffering people, it should facilitate  non-governmental organization coming to the rescue of the people. In its nervousness, the state authorities believing in ‘Goebbelian’ tactics blocked all information and communication channels including cable network and internet. It is highly condemnable that on Sunday and Monday none of the valley-based newspaper could be printed as government restricted the movement of the people carrying the copies in the evening  to the respective printing presses. Such cheap tactics of gagging the press and blocking communication channels are fraught with dangers of providing grist to the rumor mills. The government should immediately lift the curfew and     restrictions on communication channels and newspapers. 

Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST