Pulwama swaps gunfire for cricket cheers, wins PM Modi’s praise

Srinagar: Once known as the hotbed of militancy in south Kashmir, Pulwama - home to some of the Valley’s most dreaded commanders over the last decade - is now scripting a new chapter.

On August 25, Pulwama hosted its first-ever day-night cricket match as part of the Rahmoo Premier League (RPL), drawing thousands of spectators and earning praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pulwama had long been synonymous with the insurgency. It was here that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, whose killing in 2016 sparked months of unrest, rose to prominence.

In subsequent years, the district produced other high-profile militants - from Sameer Tiger, the Hizbul face killed in 2018, to Adil Ahmad Dar, the Jaish suicide bomber behind the 2019 Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel.

Commanders like Riyaz Naikoo of Hizbul and Jaish’s Mohammad Umar Farooq were also traced to Pulwama before being gunned down in encounters.

Against this backdrop of blood and violence, the sight of floodlit cricket in the same soil was a dramatic contrast.

“Thousands of people, especially youth, enjoying cricket at night in Pulwama — it was a sight to behold,” Prime Minister Modi said during the 125th episode of Mann Ki Baat, describing the atmosphere in the stadium as “unprecedented”.

MLA Pulwama Waheed Para, who attended the opening match until the last ball, described the initiative as “a game-changer for not just Pulwama but the whole of J&K”.

“We have 65 per cent of our population under 30, scarred by conflict and uncertainty. These matches create a space where our youth can heal, aspire and reclaim hope,” he said and added that the event was organised despite limited facilities.

“We don’t have proper stadiums or equipment - everything here was rented. Yet, the passion of the players and the crowd shows what is possible,” MLA Parra added.

For many locals, the event marked a symbolic break from Pulwama’s troubled past. “This ground once echoed with protests and funerals. Today, it’s filled with joy,” said Bilal Rashid, a shopkeeper, who witnessed the match.

Observers note that sport, especially cricket and football, are emerging as a unifying force in Kashmir. “It may not erase decades of conflict, but it provides an outlet and a hope that the next generation deserves,” said a college teacher in Pulwama.

As fireworks lit the sky and the winning team lifted the trophy, Pulwama’s night was no longer a reminder of grief but of possibility - with cricket turning into the new colour of celebration in a district once defined by darkness.