JOIN USWani folklore could inspire fresh militancy
Rather as the commander of a terror outfit, Burhan Wani has become a hero to thousands of Kashmiri youths involved in fresh wave of militancy.
Born in an affluent and educated family in south Kashmir’s Tral area, Burhan and his followers used social media to project the arms struggle as a calling to hundreds of youths, creating a star-cast of militants in the valley.
Since Burhan’s killing in an encounter with security forces on July 8, defiant teenagers have scrawled graffitis on walls and public places extolling his praises. “A martyr, a hero, someone who changed the discourse on Kashmir,” a member of a group of protesting youths in old city told DH.
As have been the rest of Kashmir, they have only known Burhan through the tiny footages shot on mobile phones.
Asked if the protests over killing of a militant that claimed more than 50 lives in 17 days is justified, the teenagers said Burhan was the messiah of oppressed Kashmiris.
“What he started won’t end with his martyrdom, as hundreds of new Burhans will be born to carry forward the mission of azadi (freedom) from India,” he said.
Born in Dadsara village of Tral, to Muzaffar Wani, the principal of a higher secondary school and Maimoona, a postgraduate of science who teaches the Quran in her village, Burhan had four siblings, including his elder brother Khalid, sister Iram and younger brother Naveed.
Khalid, an MCom degree holder, was killed by Army on April 13 last year when he had gone with his friends to meet Burhan in the forests of Tral.
While the Army claimed that Khalid was killed in an encounter, residents of his native village said he was tortured since he was the brother of a militant.
Burhan was probably the first local militant after the 1990s to be known by his name in the entire Valley.
The tipping point, according to many, was when Burhan, his brother Khalid and a friend were beaten up by J&K police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) as they went on a bike ride in 2010.
Burhan subsequently joined the indigenous Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit and became its poster boy. He never concealed his identity or his followers’, using their appeal to recruit at least 100 youngsters to Hizbul.
Police records revealed that Burhan plotted several militant strikes though he seldom took part in them. His jihadi videos persuaded young Kashmiris to join the “holy war” with the “promise of a fulfilled life hereafter”.
Security and political observers fear the death of 22-year old Burhan, being remembered as a class topper who loved to play cricket and was a fan of Virender Sehwag and Shahid Afridi, could become the rallying point of a renewed indigenous militancy and ispire fresh recruitment.