Kashmiris asked to quit forces

Hyderabad: When they met for the first time after their engagement early this year, this 28-year-old, who works in one of the para-military forces and is posted in Jammu and Kashmir, told his fiancee that after their marriage, she should teach Kashmiri children the importance of our nation and how it is important for every Kashmiri to love the motherland.

His fiancee, a lecturer in J&K education department, happily agreed. In fact, India and terrorism in Kashmir used to be at the centre of all their conversations over the last several months.

As both the families got down to making arrangements for the nikaah and were looking forward to the marriage scheduled early next year, August 5 changed everything.

Angered at the Modi government’s decision of abrogating Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K, the woman’s family began pressurising the man to quit the services and join the voices that opposed the Centre’s move.

‘’You have to quit. You cannot continue in the para-military force when the Centre itself is harming the interests of Kashmir,’’ insisted the lecturer. The man did not yield and the marriage has now been called off.

Kashmiri men, who are either serving in J&K police, Indian Army or the para-military forces are now under immense pressure from their family members and friends to give up their jobs as they feel betrayed by the Centre for its decision.