J&K unrest: Burhan's father new face of 'azaadi', offers daughter for cause
Protest march at Pulwama's Khrew, called by Muzaffar Wani, saw a massive turn out, with people ditching protests by separatists.
Srinagar: It was a major victory for Indian security forces when Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, best described the ‘new age poster boy of terror’, was gunned on July 8, but what followed was a renewed fervour for ‘azaadi’, as violent protests against his death broke out in the valley which continue to this day. And to compound the problems of the administration, his father Muzaffar Wani is emerging as a strong face behind whom the locals are flocking to rally their support, trumping seasoned separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the Mirwaiz Omar Farooq.
Earlier, Muzaffar Wani and Hurriyat leaders had attended a protest event at Kareemabad in Pulwama where many of the slain militants are put to rest. The event saw a massive turn out of at least 50,000 people.
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Addressing the gathering, Wani called for a protest march to Khrew, in Pulwama on August 6.
However, the Hurriyat leaders called for a separate protest, ‘Dargah Chalo’ on the same day.
Reports revealed that while Dargah Chalo received very sparse response, the Khrew protest, called by Wani, saw a massive turn out.
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Arriving at the protest venue in Khrew in an SUV with several armed militants guarding him, Wani, who was the star attraction of the protests, reportedly announced that after sacrificing his two sons, Burhan and his older brother, he was now ready to sacrifice his only surviving daughter to fight against ‘Indian occupation’.
Burhan Wani’s older brother Khalid Wani, also associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed in an encounter between militants and security forces in 2010.
One of the militants escorting Wani also addressed that gathering, and requested them not to indulge in stone pelting against the security forces, saying it would only escalate violence, and lead to more killings.
Thought the Hurriyat was not associated with the Khrew protest, sensing the mood of the valley, it later sent out Wani’s address to mobile phones.