The possibility of the involvement of separatists in masterminding violence in the Kashmir Valley has become somewhat evident following the interception of a conversation between two senior office-bearers of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
With reports of anti-national elements owing allegiance to the separatists creating unrest in Kashmir, the Centre has already asked the state government to take stern measures. It was claimed by government agencies that the stone-pelters were being paid Rs 300 per day by separatists and militant outfits.
However, on Thursday, Central intelligence agencies intercepted a conversation of Hurriyat office-bearers where they apparently discussed plans to get at least 15 people killed in a procession near Srinagar on Wednesday. It was learnt that a large procession had started in Budgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar, on Wednesday evening and two senior office-bearers of the hardline Hurriyat faction discussed how to manipulate the event so that people get killed, a transcript available with the home ministry indicated.
Ministry officials claimed that as per the transcript, one of the office-bearers, Ghulam Ahmed Dar, was heard telling Shabir Ahmed Wani, another office-bearer, about the procession of nearly 20,000 people that had started from Magam and was heading towards Budgam. The transcript reads: “Wani to Dar: ‘You guys enjoy payments sitting at home and do nothing.’
Dar replies: ‘The management of crowd becomes difficult later. It gets difficult to manage the mob later.’ He continues: ‘At least 15 people should be martyred today.’”
Nothing of the sort happened as the police dispersed the procession with a mild cane-charge and no untoward incident took place.