KARACHI: A video clip in which a constable has declared that excesses being perpetrated in India-held Kashmir have forced him to quit the police force has been shared widely by social media users.

“I have resigned from [Jammu and Kashmir] police department so that my conscience does not keep on asking me questions whether I am right or wrong as a policeman to see [and tolerate] the bloodshed here,” the constable who identifies himself as Rayees says in the clip.

He says he worked for the police department for a total of seven years and had joined it to serve the people. “At the time of joining this department, I had vowed to serve civilians and take up the responsibilities of my family.

“I think I was doing jihad as it is a means to fight the unnecessary desires within oneself and also to fight for humanity, but the situation has worsened in the Kashmir Valley... Each day Kashmiris are getting killed, some are losing their eyes, some are in jails and some under house arrest.”

In the clip, Rayees says the atrocities are being committed because Kashmiris are calling for plebiscite. “The bloodshed here is because the plebiscite never took place. Even Indians and Pakistanis are dying here, but Kashmir suffers the most.

“Neither do I like Pakistan nor do I hate India. I only love my Kashmir; I want peace here,” he said.

“It is not in my hands to resolve this issue, but there is another issue for which I have shared this video. I am watching this bloodshed as a policeman and my conscience keeps on questioning me whether it is right or wrong of me.

“Initially I had no answer, but now I have come up with a resolution of the issue... and I have decided that I will resign from my job and I am telling you all through this video that I have resigned,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2017