Dread, fear on 12-km long journey through
Srinagar’s barricaded roads
Musavirr Wani
SRINAGAR, Aug 24: For people who live outside Kashmir, this place is a paradise,
but they do not know that if a person has to reach his office he has to give
explanation at 42 check points just in 12 kilometers. If I had not provided lift
to two police personnel at Humhama CRPF post I would never have made it.
From early morning hours flying squad of Jammu and Kashmir police was announcing the declaration of curfew. Just to check the intensity of the curfew I went outside my home towards the market in Ompora Budgam just 12 kilometers away from Srinagar city. I was shocked when I saw dozens of army vehicles on the main road of Ompora. I remembered a scene from Hollywood movie ‘Enemy at the Gates’, which is based on the battle of Stalingrad during World War Second II. I knew that it would be better to pack things for two days before leaving for
office. Hence I packed my bag and started driving towards my office. I was aware
of grueling moments ahead just in my attempt to reach my office in Lal Chowk
area despite being a media person. Two hours before I embarked on my journey, my brother who is a doctor left for his hospital and was allowed to move after many questions. Reports of casualties and beating up of media persons in the hospital had also begun pouring in. With prayers on my lips, stereo of my car on off mode I left from my home. Few meters ahead I was stopped by few CRPF personnel. They had long bamboo sticks in their hands, I started shivering. With a pseudo smile on my face I said, “Major Sahab Press Wala Hoon (Major, I am press personal)”. I showed them curfew pass which was issued on August 11 by DC Office Srinagar. Simply pointing with his bamboo stick towards their officer they allowed me to proceed. I reached the main stop of Ompora Budgam, where Army, BSF, CRPF and local police were deployed. Skipping heart beats, I wondered what next. Finally an army jawan said “Sahab Ke Paas Jao (Move towards sir)”. After proving my identity, showing the former curfew pass and convincing them to be most loyal and humble person in this world tried to get permission from the army major. But without wasting his time he said, “Go back to your home. Press people are not allowed. I will allow you but try in the afternoon hours”. He provided his cell number to me and I left back for home. Everyone was astonished at home. Neighbours started asking me the condition outside.
Meanwhile one of my friends provided me the number of an army official. Without
wasting time I called him. I was so excited when he said, “You can proceed I
will talk to that major myself”. I changed my clothes once again and left for my
office with many more prayers on my lips. I was stopped once again by the same
CRPF personnel who had stopped me earlier, but this time I was bit confident and
said, “Sir Sahab Ke Saath Baat Hui Hai (Sir I have talked to Boss)”. Then I
started my journey. This time, at the main stop only local police was present
who said that the army major left who had promised to let me proceed had left.
If you can overtake his car then go. It was very tough overtaking his car not
because he was far away from mine but I had to cross three army barricades
within 30-40 feet length. I took my head out of the window and started telling
army jawans that I have talked to their boss and he has allowed me to go.
After this hurdle, there was only a few feet of road without troops and then a
long convoy of BSF jawans was on few hundred meters of road near Shiekhpora
which is just half kilometer away from my residence. I was shivering but driving
as well. As soon as I reached Shiekhpora market the same army officer stopped my vehicle. I told him about the telephonic conversation with his boss. He said, “I
am allowing you but if you will reach office before 2 PM, you can change my
name”. Meanwhile, around 15 army jawans surrounded my vehicle.
One was knocking my window pane and another knocking my bonnet, one jawan asking me, “who allowed you,” in front of his boss and the other one asking me about curfew pass. Literally speaking, I felt they would bash me up and damage my car but the army major ordered me to leave. My car was still in second gear when a CRPF person came rushing with a long bamboo stick. I applied brakes and took out my head out of the window pane and said, “Sir Sir Aap Ke Sahab Ne Choda (Sir Sir your boss allowed me)”. He also checked my identity card and then allowed me to leave.
After leaving the Shiekhpora area I started thinking of whether I should proceed
any further or move back. I was caught between the devil and the deep sea. I
started driving slowly for a while and thought, should I move or not. Till then
I reached the CRPF camp which lies between Humhama and Shiekhpora.
Two persons stopped my vehicle and asked for a lift. No doubt I stopped my car
but I asked them to prove their identity first. They were police personnel who
were on foot from Budgam. One of them had to move to central jail and the other
one to police control room. Now my two fellow passengers started proving their
identity. “Oh Allah these policemen prove sometimes very beneficial,” I said to
myself. The CRPF jawan now smiled and said, “Chalo Chalo (move move)”. From
Humhama till Bye Pass I was not stopped a single time. But all the roads leading
to main roads were sealed with barbed wire. Local police personnel were nowhere
visible on the main road. Only CRPF was deployed on both sides of the main road
but they were not stopping anyone till Bye- Pass.
I was stopped at Bye-pass once again and my fellowmen were asked to alight from the vehicle for checking. After proving their identity, the policemen were
frisked. They allowed us to proceed. Few meters ahead near a bend, I spotted a
tap and stopped my vehicle to drink water.
For next one kilometer I was not aware that I will be stopped thrice. There only
I started recalling how many times I was stopped from my home. The biggest
hurdle was to cross the check post at Solina. Several officers of police, CRPF
were present at that place. CRPF personnel stopped my vehicle and said that no
media person would be allowed to move ahead. Drop these two persons here and you turn your vehicle back towards your home. I stopped my car and approached the officers. They also asked for identity card, curfew pass and so many things but
I requested them and made my way ahead there also.
But one thought was killing me – that I drop those two police persons at
Exhibition Crossing, will I be able to reach my office just a short distance
from there. On way to the Exhibition Crossing I was stopped several times and my
fellow passengers where providing details on my behalf. At last, when we
reached, one of the two cops got down there and the other one accompanied me.
Crossing the Budshah Bridge he said to me, “Please drop me at Dalgate I need to
reach Central Jail”.
The words brought dread because I knew I will not be allowed to turn back from
Dalgate but as he had helped me so much I took a chance. Till I reached Dalgate
I was stopped at nine places but this time I told them that I need to drop this
person at Dalgate and will come back, requesting them to write down the number
of my vehicle. Dropping my last lucky chap at Dalgate, I turned into Moulana Azad Road, I was once again stopped numerous times and I was diverted near Jee Enn Sons shop near former chief minister’s residence towards Poloview. From that place, my office is just few meters away but it took my 15 minutes to reach even though there was no traffic.
Finally I was in my office after crossing 42 barricades. It took me exactly one
hour and fifty minutes to cover 12 kilometers which I usually cover in 25
minutes. Trust me I have never felt so scared as I was today. Crossing those 12
kilometres was indeed a nightmare and a long one at that too.