Name: Abdul Ghani Lone Age: The count is off Nationality: Indian Claim to fame: Murder in broad daylight
THE brutal murder of Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Ghani Lone is yet another reminder of how multi-dimensional the Kashmir dispute has become in the last few years. It is no more between Pakistan and India alone. It has, in fact, gone beyond the once-popular third option. Even the Kashmiris now appear to be slightly divided on the way ahead, and the mode of journey they wish to take towards their target resolution of the long-standing issue.
All this is not to suggest or lend any degree of credibility to the Indian claims that Lone was killed by Kashmiri hardliners. The fact is that the Indian government is using minor differences among the freedom-fighters to carry out its nefarious agenda. Why else has it failed to arrest a single culprit to justify its claim?
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf also made a meaningful mention of the case in his recent televised address. What the general implied in his speech clearly made India uncomfortable on the issue. But, still, there has been no concrete movement ahead in the case even though the premises on which the murder was effected was surrounded by Indian security personnel.
Lone’s death has plunged the Hurriyat Conference into a crisis, but the leaders are trying to ensure unity and generate a sympathy wave among the people. Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat has played a pivotal role in quelling the emotional outbursts. By declaring Lone as Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, Bhat tried to retain Lone’s People’s Conference in the Hurriyat fold. Contrary to Indian claims, in its first meeting after Lone’s death, the People’s Conference said Lone’s martyrdom would be a milestone in Kashmir’s freedom movement.
The APHC itself linked the assassination of Lone to his recent visit to the US, and called it a part of a larger conspiracy against the freedom movement. “He who goes to America either reaches a jail or a grave,” said Bhat, referring to the separate US visits of Hurriyat leaders Mohammad Yasin Malik and Lone.
Another thing that goes against the Indian claim is the two attacks that had been carried out against Lone in the last six months. In early April, Shiv Sena members had roughed him up in a Jammu hotel. Lone was talking to TV reporters when Shiv Sena members led by state Sena chief Kalki Maharaj had entered the room and pushed and shoved him. Earlier, in November last year, shots were fired at his house in Srinagar.
In an interview to an India website soon after the November attack, Lone had remarked that he had “reason to believe that the attack was the handiwork of the state and central governments”.
There is nothing to suggest that Lone had any reason to change his heart or mind in the last six months. Why, then, would some Kashmiri bring an end to his life?
THE brutal murder of Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Ghani Lone is yet another reminder of how multi-dimensional the Kashmir dispute has become in the last few years. It is no more between Pakistan and India alone. It has, in fact, gone beyond the once-popular third option. Even the Kashmiris now appear to be slightly divided on the way ahead, and the mode of journey they wish to take towards their target resolution of the long-standing issue.
