Whenever someone is looking for the most beautiful touristic and picturesque locations in the world, this valley always makes it to that list. While the tourists who come and go after clicking some good pictures, don’t know the dark and bloody story that lies underneath this valley. Rape, killings, migration, pain, despair – the valley holds all these chapters beneath it.
CHAPTER 1
“Sir, I need to talk to you about something,” Major Rahul Kaul asked, entering the chamber of Major Ashok Rawat.
“Oh yes, Major Kaul, tell me”
“Sir, is it true that Major Rajyavardhan Singh is being deputed in charge of the valley?” asked a tense Kaul after taking seat.
“So you’ve also got to know about it. Yes man, it’s true…”
“But sir, you know about him…you know it can be very dangerous if…”
“Major Kaul, Major Kaul…you don’t need to panic so much. You know how sensitive the situation is after the attack and if the government has decided to give him the responsibility, it’s alright. He is a very fine officer. I think you are overblowing things”
A dissatisfied Kaul left the room after offering his salutations.
2 HOURS LATER
Donning a shawl and sipping some Kahwa, Major Kaul was staring outside his balcony of his quarter apartment, when his mind wandered down the memory lane.
CHAPTER 2
“Sir, we need more force,” said a panicking Himmat, as he shielded from a barrage of stones being hurled by the protestors.
“It’s not possible at the moment, Himmat…our units at blocked off at four different points in the valley, unable to move. This stone pelting is happening in a very coordinated manner,” replied his boss Arshdeep Kang.
Last night, the armed forces killed Ismail Dar, a young separatist leader, with strong following in the valley. By afternoon, the news spread like wildfire and young protestors started gathering in different parts of the valley, aggressively protesting against the killing.
A disappointed Himmat moved aside his phone and shouted, “Arjun, Gunjan…start firing tear shells.”
The team started throwing tear bombs towards the protestors, but to no avail. Taking advantage of the uneven, rocky terrain of the valley, the protestors managed to evade the impact of the shells. The stone pelting continued from different angles.
While the officers were navigating the rain of stones, a solid 5 kg rock hit Gunjan right on his head, leaving him unconscious on ground. As Arjun tried to come on the front, another sharp rock came towards him, which he managed to shed off just a second before it could’ve smashed his face. But, this touch-and-go save left his right hand severely injured and he too had to back off behind the shields.
Just as the situation looked extremely dire with the forces getting cordoned off by the protestors, there came a moment of pause. As the officers peeped, they saw protestors struggling in pain. Some sharp nail type stuff had pierced through their faces, hands and necks, leaving them in immense pain. Some protestors ran away from the site, many lied down on road crying, some kept wobbling here and there.
As the situation improved, the officers came out of their defensive postures and tried to comprehend what just happened. After a few minutes, Major Rajyavardhan Singh emerged from the shadows, putting his sunglasses and holding a unique gun.
“Hope you guys are alright…please take all the injured troops for treatment.”
Himmat, who incurred some minor injuries, came up to Rajyavardhan. “Thank you so much, Major! If you hadn’t come, I don’t know what we would’ve done” he said. “But sir, what was the weapon that you used? I haven’t…”
“That’s called pellet guns, mister. That’s the way to deal with things here. Come on, move it now,” Rajyavardhan said as he headed back towards his jeep.
FEW DAYS LATER
Major Rajyavardhan takes stand in front of the enquiry committee.
“Is it true that the day protests broke out in the valley, you used pellet guns on the protestors?”
“Yes sir”
“When you ordered the use of pellet guns to your troop, were you aware that its use has been banned by the country’s court.”
“I was aware of it”
“So did you chose to violate the order?”
“Yes, because law and order is not maintained by speeches on human rights. It is we, the soldiers who lay down the lives. If these left-liberal judges feel so sympathetic for these terrorists, they should come and spend a day in the valley, rather giving lectures from their air-conditioned rooms.”
“Major Rajyavardhan! Do you have any idea what you have done. Didn’t you know there were so many minors and one such girl has been blinded by your actions?”
“And sir, do you have any idea what would’ve happened had I not taken this action that day. The jihadi terrorists had almost killed one of our men and would’ve surely killed many more with their heavy stones. Nothing matters to me more than my officers and my country, and these are very ‘limited damage’ for my country’s security…”
Major Rayavardhan was suspended and posted in the national capital.
CHAPTER 3
“Jazib, be fast beta…you are getting late for school,” Fateema shouted while pouring the kahwa in the cup.
“I’m coming Ammi,” Jazib said, as he rushed outside, drank kahwa, and left.
“Go safely and come back to home directly. Don’t talk to anyone”
“Haa Haa Ammi, I know,” said an irritating Jazib as he left back
It’s been 2 years since Fateema has been raising Jazib and his younger brother Wajid, all by herself.
2 YEARS AGO
On a dark gloomy night, Fateema was waiting for her husband, Pervez to return. It was already way past from the time he usually returned after selling his daily stock of ‘saffron’. An anxious Fateema had knocked incessantly on almost neighbouring doors of almost every neighbour around but to no avail.
There was no information about Pervez till next afternoon. Till then, it was more than clear that things are not fine. Fateema went to the nearest police station.
“It’s been a month Fateema. Had the police been willing, they would’ve found something by now. I think you need to accept the fact that Pervez…”
“No Ismat Aapa! What are you saying? How can I stop believing till I don’t have concrete proof…”
“It’s the valley Fateema…you know nothing ‘concrete’ comes out here”
PRESENT TIME
Fateema was in the market to purchase some vegetables. She looked at the meat market nearby and decided to go in.
“Bhaiyya, what’s the price of meat?”
“700/kg”
A shocked-tense Fateema paused for a while, and then murmured, “Give some 250 gms…”
“Come on ma’am, at least take 500 gms…for you I’ll price it at 250…I know you are having a difficult time”
An embarrassed Fateema thought for a second, and then mildly nodded in affirmation.
Coming back from the market, her jaws dropped when she saw Jazib, with school bag on his shoulders, speaking to two young boys.
A panicked Fateema ran as her packets fell on ground. “Heyyy…get away from him,” she shouted.
Looking at her, the boys ran away. Before Jazib could’ve understood anything, Fateema held her and slapped him.
“How many times do I need to tell you to be away from such people. They are radicals, they will take you on the wrong path, they will…”
“They will, what Ammi? At least they can help me find Abbu…have you been able to find him in last 2 years?” said an agitated Jazib and rushed back home.
A shocked and disappointed Fateema, somehow wiped her tears, and picked up the packets from ground.
1 HOUR LATER
As Fateema returned home, she saw Jazib was back and was sitting around Wajid, who was at their neighbour’s house when she was out.
Fateema kept her hands at Jazib’s shoulders, “Beta, do you hate me?”
“Ammi…”
“I know I’ve failed, but beta I always try to…”
“Ammi Ammi please…don’t say like this. I am sorry…I just meet those guys because they said we will fight to bring back Abbu and all others who have disappeared.”
“Beta…I’m telling you again. Please stay away from them. Whatever their aim is, the mode they are using is both wrong and dangerous. And I can’t afford to lose another piece my heart. I won’t be able to live if anything happens to you, or Wajid. Please beta, I promise we’ll keep working to find Abbu, but promise me you won’t meet them again.”
“OK Ammi, I promise…I won’t” said Jazib holding his Ammi’s hands tightly.
“Thank you so much beta,” said a teary-eyed Fateema. “I’ve brought some mutton, let me make some solid rogan josh for you”
2 DAYS LATER
Fateema joined the fellow women at the Meccah Chowk, who were protesting against enforced disappearances in the valley. The placards at the site read “1035 days…still waiting for justice”, “What’s ‘Naya’ in 1,00,459 enforced disappearances?” and “I am also a half-widow”.
Half-widow is what the women in this part of the world are called, whose husbands ‘disappear’ with no whereabouts, and the families keep yearning for to see them either dead or alive.
CHAPTER 4
“Hey Jazib, why are not you meeting with us these days?” asked Misbah, laying his hands across Jazib’s shoulders.
“Ammi has asked to stay away from you guys”
“But, why Jazib? Aren’t we your friends who are helping you?” Kamran asked, laying his hands from the other side.
“See, don’t bother me, Ammi…” Jazib said, getting out of their grasp. “Leave me alone!”
Just as Jazib tried running away from there, a voice came from behind, “Fine run away, we had just come to tell you that we know what happened to your father. But it’s OK if you don’t want to know it. We’ll go…”
“No no no…wait…” a hesitant Jazib turned. “Tell me, what do you know about my father?”
“Ahh, that’s like it, but not so easily. First, you have to do something for us.”
NEAR STATE SECRETARIAT
“Hello Abhishek, what’s the security assessment there?” asked Major Kaul over phone.
“Yes Major, it looks fine near the airport side. What about the secretariat side?”
“Things are under control here too. Some protests against disappearances were being planned, but we have enforced lockdown in that part of the valley. So, all good.”
A few minutes later, Major Kaul opened the whole itinerary of PM’s event on his WhatsApp. While reading through all the points, his eyes got stuck on one thing.
Suddenly, he called back, “Hey, do you have the list of all the kids who will be giving the welcome performance on PM’s arrival?”
“No…we haven’t received it”
“Damn! Call at the PM office ASAP and ask for the list.”
“Why the hell this aged PM needs to do an event when there is threat situation in the valley. Can’t that fatass stay in his office. This PR nonsense of showcasing ‘normalcy’ in valley,” Kaul murmured to himself.
PM EVENT
The children present a dance performance at the gate of the conference centre. A decent crowd including media was surrounding the area
Just before the PM’s arrival, the children lined up for the welcome event. CM arrived with huge pomp and show, with the children presenting a dance performance. Amid all the celebration, Major Kaul kept his eyes pointed towards the people gathered around there.
He suddenly noticed two guys looking a bit perturbed, trying to press something on a remote and showing frustration at each other. Major Kaul indicated his team to manage the security here and rushed towards them. Realizing an officer coming towards them, both started running through the valley. Some officers tried following them, but they managed to escape through the complex terrains.
FLASHBACK
Major Kaul had the intel that the militants are trying to radicalize some young children and use them as human bombs. He knew that Jazib is one of the boys being pursued for it.
So, today while scanning through the full itinerary, Major Kaul realized that the PM was supposed to meet with some meritorious students at the school, which also included Jazib’s name. That’s where sirens rang for Major Kaul and he intervened to cancel that session and even barred the entry of all children listed for the event.
Using this opportunity, he secretly got a GPS planted on Jazib’s belt and assigned a team track him, as Major Kaul was sure Jazib will go to the militants after this.
PRESENT TIME
“How the hell they got to know about it…our whole plan was ruined,” Kamran shouted in frustration.
“There were not many people aware of our plan, right? I am totally suspicious of Jazib. He has been behaving weirdly for a while,” a stern Misbah said, and received a nod from Kamran.
Around an hour later, Jazib came at the location.
“Misbah Bhai, Kamran Bhai…you guys had said you’ll tell me about my father today. I’m here now, tell me”
“Of course, we’ll tell you, what’s the hurry,” said Kamran.
“Wait, what is this weird device on your back?” Misbah asked as he pulled out the GPS tracker from his back.
A totally surprised and clueless Jazib stared at the two.
Around 10 minutes later, Major Kaul and his team arrived at the spot tracking the GPS location. As they entered the cottage, they saw Jazib lying on floor drenched in blood with no one else to be seen around.
Major Kaul bent on his knees, buried in guilt and regretting his idea of letting Jazib go alone to the militants. His body was handed over to her mother.
“Jazib, why did you leave me? How will I live now?” said an inconsolable Fateema. “This valley has taken both my husband and my son…it’s anything but a paradise for me.” She stood up and went for making arrangements of Jazib’s burial, while keeping small Wajid in her arms.
CHAPTER 5
“You can’t get away like this, at least give a proper response?” Aliza Khan, a young reporter from local newspaper, was trying to question the police, but to no avail.
It was 24 hours since the forces used pellet guns against the protestors, leaving many, including minors, gravely injured. 12-year-old Nafeesa has lost her vision and will never be able to see again. 19-year-old Minhaz is still under critical care, after 2 pellets got lodged in the temple of his head.
“Why are we held up here and why our newspapers being restricted from publications,” Aliza shouted. “There is a critical silence in the valley.”
“Hey, let her come,” Major Kaul said, and signalled his men to come.
After Aliza sat, Kaul asked, “Tell me madam, what’s the issue?”
“What’s the issue? Sir, your men have literally shot at the kids. And now, the press is being pressurized. What’s going on…?”
“Madam, you need to understand the situation in the valley is very critical. We are not stopping the press. We just want to ensure that no content is propagated which flames the situation any further.”
“So you mean censorship of news…?”
“Call it whatever you want, but we need to make the necessary checks. Our not so friendly neighbour is working hard to disseminate its propaganda against our state and armed forces and to counter that, it’s an important step. Because of this very reason, internet connection has also been cut in the valley…”
“But sir, what should we do?”
“You can submit your story here and after all the necessary checks, we will allow the stories to go for publication.”
NEXT MORNING
“What the hell is this,” an angry Aliza tried barging inside the police station, before being stopped by the officers.
“Let her come in,” Major Kaul instructed, and once she came asked, “What’s your problem now”
“Sir, my story has been tarnished into some dogshit press release,” she said. “My whole reporting on the lines of ‘Protests in valley over activist’s encounter; police shooting leave dozens injured’ has been changed to ‘Police crackdown on militancy supporters lead to minor injuries’.”
“Well, it reads fine to me…”
This had become the norm in the valley. Almost every day, the reporters had to get all the news checked before publishing. Many journalists whose articles looked sympathetic to militants were arrested. In a strong show of iron first against any dissent, even the NGOs and human rights groups operating in the valley were cracked down upon.
CHAPTER 6
A 5-jeep convoy carrying 50 officers of the armed forces was moving in the valley. The convoy was still 10 km away from its destination, when officer Vijay noticed something.
“Hey, what is this other vehicle between ours and Salim’s?”
“Oh yes, when did it enter our convoy…I think just at the last cut. We have to stop it…”
Vijay moved his head outside the jeep and shouted, “Hey Salim…stop the car. There is one…”
Before he could’ve completed his sentence, a devastating blast rampaged through the entire perimeter, galloping all five jeeps in its wrath and leaving a harrowing scene of charred bodies, burned vehicles and a deadly silence.
4 HOURS LATER
“By all means, it was a suicide bombing. All the evidence points to the fact that the perpetrators were in the valley for a month while orchestrating this whole plan. This is an absolute security failure for us,” the incident report concluded.
After a few minutes of silence, Major Prakash Pande said, “We need to take some extremely strict actions now. I spoke with the supreme leader, he has given ‘full freedom’. In a few hours, I’ll announce a complete overhaul of our security apparatus.
By evening, new appointments were made for overseeing the security apparatus. The troop deployment increased in various parts of the valley
CHAPTER 7
“Sir, where are you taking me? I’ve not done anything,” a terrified Yakub said, as the forces pulled him outside.
“He hasn’t done anything. Leave him,” Jasmine tried intruding but was pushed aside, and she fell with a thud.
“Jasmine Jasmine…you go inside and keep the kids safe…I’ll be back, don’t worry,” Yakub shouted while being dragged outside by the forces.
IN THE ADJACENT HOUSE
“Ammi Ammi…” cried Mehraj, as two officers grabbed him to take aside.
“Hey, please leave him. He has nothing to do with any attack. He is just a kid”
Within a few minutes, all the men were rounded out and taken inside a nearby shed.
INSIDE THE SHED
“Tell me, where were those terrorists hiding? Who helped them all this while,” shouted Rajyavardhan.
“Sir, I have no idea about it…trust me sir…aahh” even before finishing, he got a sharp hit from a hot iron rod on his butt.
“You guys don’t understand anything less than this,” Rajyavardhan said as he kept smashing the rod.
After a few minutes, he moved to the other person, who was in late teens and grabbed him by his long hairs. Pointing the mobile screen in front of his face, he asked, “Did you post this?”
The post read, “Aaj gantantra divas par deshbhakt fauj ne ghati me gasht kiya aur 2 aur logo ko le gayi. Speak for Kashmir (Today, on Republic Day the patriotic Army made rounds in the valley. Speak for Kashmir).”
With panic in his face and tears wiping his forehead, Bashir said, “Yes sir…ahhh”, before being handed a tight slap.
“Speak for Kashmir, huh?”
“S…S…Sorry sir, I was just a bit frustrated on the repeated disruptions…”
Rajyavardhan grabbed Bashir by his hairs and put it in the adjacent bucket of water, leaving him flapping his hands in pain.
All this while, other officers kept smashing other accused with hot iron rods.
“Do you guys consider our job as joke?” Rajyavardhan said holding Bashir. “You have any idea what all we put at stake to protect this country from your brothers across the border? How many times our men lay down their lives so that someone can sleep peacefully? Start singing the national anthem, NOW…””
“Sir sir sir…” officer Vishal interrupted. “The kid will die.”
Realizing he has been holding Bashir, he pulled him out and pushed him behind, “bloody asshole.”
“aahhh…aaaahh,” shouted Bashir in immense pain, as he vomited water while holding his chest, somehow trying to utter the verses.
“They won’t understand like this,” said Rajyavardhan and moved towards his bag on the side. “Turn all of them with their back towards me and open their fucking pants”.
After feeling a minute of awkward silence, he said, “Do I need to repeat?”
A sense of panic crept in, and the officers did as they were ordered even as the detainees kept crying.
Rajyavardhan came forward and started throwing chilli powder on the butts of the detainees, with even loud cries echoing across the neighbourhood.
“Tell me, where were they hiding, otherwise I will turn all of you into corpses.”
“Sir…sir, they were hiding in the adjacent neighborhood for 2 days,” a petrified Bashir, trembling in pain, said.
“Hey, shut up Bashir,” shouted Yakub.
“You’ll get us killed,” Mehraj said.
“You think these officers are doing anything different,” cried Bashir. “Sir, I know where they were hiding, but please don’t kill me…the militants had pointed guns at our heads and had threatened to kill our families. Please spare me, I beg of you”
Using Bashir’s tip off, the army units gathered at the locations and found some clues about the militants. Based on that, some further arrests and houses of those who allegedly sheltered the militants, were bulldozed. This was followed by another high-profile encounter, which though brought laurels for the forces but the claims of deceased being a minor fanned further tensions in the valley.
CHAPTER 8
MEANWHILE, IN THE OTHER BUILDING, THAT NIGHT
“Why are you doing this to us,” Iqra held officer Manoj by his collar. “Leave our men. They have not done anything…aaahh”. She was pushed away.
Before she could’ve understood anything. Manoj held her from the back and pushed her further on the wall.
“Hey, what are you doing? Leave me…leave me…”
“Shut up!” shouted Manoj, and ripped apart the back part of her pheran and pulled off her Hijab.
“No no…please leave me”.
The cries were of no use, as Manoj forced her to lie down and pounced on her.
All other women cornered on the other side of the house kept crying and begging for help.
Suddenly, the door of the house opened, and there entered Major Rajyavardhan. Looking at him, Manoj immediately got away from Iqra, pulled up his pants and stood up.
The silence sustained for a few minutes and was broken by Rajyavardhan.
“Why so serious, guys?” he said. “We’ve cracked a major breakthrough in the terror case. Let’s have a kickass celebration.” Rajyavardhan sat on a chair, with his legs across and held the bottle of alcohol, with others following suit.
The room pumped up on peak volume with the song, “Mehbooba Mehbooba…Mehbooba Mehbooba…Uuuuu…”
As the song progressed, each officer started grabbing one woman after the other. While Roshan chose an 18-year-old Noor, Satvik pounced on an 80-year-old Muskan. A blind Razia, sick Anjum, and a pregnant Shabana, none were spared.
Amidst this, Rajyavardhan himself went ahead and grabbed two women at once, who despite their best efforts, couldn’t get out of his grasp. He pulled off their Hijab, put his hands over their breasts and started kissing them everywhere, forcefully.
“Leave my child”…”Please spare my ammi”…”Have some mercy”. These dreadful cries were pulped by the loud music and the devilish laughter that echoed in the valley that night.
CHAPTER 9
“That’s a six” shouted Rehan as Arif slogged one over the mid-wicket area of the valley playground.
As he drove the next one past cover, Chintu, fielding in gully clapped, “Virat Kohli!”
Rehan, Fazal and Pervez stared at him sternly. “He is Babar Azam,” Rehan said. Cheenu looked at them with a puzzled face.
In the evening, hundreds of eyeballs were glued on their mobile screens as India and Pakistan were locking horns in the crucial T20 World Cup game. As India faced an uphill task of 31 in the last 2 overs, loud cheers of exuberance echoed across the valley. With 28 needed off 8, two epic sixes swarmed over the MCG and riding on Virat’s heroics, India scripted history, handing a shocking heartbreak to Pakistan. Chintu came outside the house, waving his small tricolor and shouted “Indiaaa…Indiaaa”. Though, he wanted to tease his rival teammates, but all he was able to see was a dead curfew-type silence in the whole valley.
FIVE YEARS LATER
“Gitanjali, we have to leave soon…where are Chintu and Chumki?” Professor Anuj came rushing in his house.
“Chintu is out for his cricket tournament, you know. And, Chumki is playing with Afrida upstairs. But, why are you so tense and where do we have to leave?”
“We have to leave the valley permanently…it’s mayhem out there. They are killing us by asking names. People are shouting slogans of “Raliv, Galiv, Chaliv”. Someone at the shop was saying, “Inshallah, we’ll purchase the next grocery on the other side of border”.
“What? Is there no security…”
“The administration has totally collapsed. CM Resigned. President’s Rule imposed. But there is no control on ground. Everyone has been caught off guard. It’s a sinister plot from across the border, executed right on time.”
Tere was a knock at the door.
A scared Anuj slightly opened the door
“Hamid Bhai!”
“Don’t worry,” he said and got inside. “See, I’ve come here to help you all. The situation in the valley has become extremely volatile. You guys need to leave…tonight”
“Hamid Bhai, we have our everything here…”
“I can understand your pain, but please understand, the militancy has reached a never-seen-before level. People are behaving like maniacs. It’s for your own safety.”
“But our house, our apple trees, our dog Sheru?” asked an emotional Anuj.
“Don’t worry bhai, I’ll take care of everything. You can come back once the situation improves. But, you have to leave tonight at all cost.”
Anuj along with Gitanjali and Chumki packed some stuff, as Hamid waited near the door. They had sent Afrida back home, as they started packing stuff.
“Let’s leave,” Hamid said.
Just as they were about to open the door, they could hear huge chants of a mob moving towards them.
“Oh no!” said Hamid staring at them. “We don’t have any other way. You guys just hide inside as deep as possible. I’ll try to convince them that you’ve left. Then we can try another escape once these idiots leave.”
Anuj along with his wife and daughter hides inside the store, trying to maintain pin drop silence. Here, just as the mob was about to storm in the house, Hamid came out with a long stick in his hand.
“They’ve left,” he told the mob. “I just came here to make a check myself.”
“Oh! Did you see them running? Have they left their whole house like this”
“No, actually they were very worried about it. But, I assured those dumbfucks that I’ll take care of their property…little did they know he will never be able to lay their hands on it ever again,” Hamid said as he shared a long laugh with the mob.
Hiding in the store, Anuj stared at his wife with his tense eyes, but signalled her to stay calm. But, just while doing so, his hand hit the broom on side and it fell down.
“There is someone inside…barge in,” Auqib directed his mob after hearing the sound.
“Arey bhaijaan, no one is there,” Hamid said but he was just pushed aside.
As the mob went in, the dog Sheru came out and pounced on Asif’s face, bringing him on his knees.
“Aaah, remove it remove it,” Asif shouted before a loud gunshot rang beside him. Sheru fell down over a pool of blood and Auqib stood there pointing his gun.
“Sheruuuu…” a child’s voice echoed from the far away corner of the house.
“So, they had all left, huh?” Auqib sternly asked Hamid.
“Bhaijaan, what you are doing is not right. No religion teaches this. They are innocent people…”
“Shut up idiot!” Auqib shot at Hamid’s leg. “They are Qaafirs”.
After this, the mob started moving towards the store hearing the noise from there. Realizing they were about to be caught, Anuj decided to sacrifice himself, and came outside.
“I am the only one here…please leave me,” Anuj said with his hands up. “Hey, don’t you remember I even taught you guys in the college, why are you guys…”
GUNSHOT
Rizwan shot him right through his head. “Yes, I also remember how you made me stand outside the classroom for not completing the assignments,” he said while kicking Anuj’s corpse.
Gitanjali, who kept begging Anuj not to go outside, was somehow controlling herself from bursting into tears. Eventually, she knew she needed to take the call. She whispered Chumki to hide inside the trunk and not come out despite whatever happens.
And…she too came outside where a blood thirsty mob waited for her. Looking at a weak miserable woman with folded hands, the mob laughed their hearts out. With their maniac eyes, they moved towards her. Anticipating what will follow, Gitanjali pulled off a knife from her back and before the mob could’ve understood anything, pierced it right into her neck. She fell down with a cry and a thud.
As the disappointed, but, still blood thirsty mob moved further inside the empty store, they could hear the sobbing of a small child sobbing all alone embracing a small doll. The two mobsters stared at each other, almost agreeing to leave her there. But, Auqib barged in pushing them aside. Chumki stared at them with her teary eyes.
GUNSHOT GUNSHOT GUNSHOT
1 MONTH LATER
As the cricket tournament concluded, Chintu, totally unaware of the mayhem that occurred in the valley, was on the cusp of returning. As he arrived at the bus station, he saw a bunch of families, including his neighbours.
“Raina uncle, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“Beta, I don’t think you have any idea what has happened in the valley in the last 1 month.”
After listening to the whole story, a dead scared Chintu asked, “What about my family.”
“Beta…if they haven’t come here till now…perhaps they’ve been…”
“No no no” Chintu broke down on his knees, crying inconsolably.
Mrs Kher came and held by her shoulders. “Don’t cry beta…you have to take care of yourself…otherwise the whole sacrifice of your family will go in vain. Gather yourself. We are with you”
A bereaved Chintu got up while being consoled by his neighbours. He put aside the bagpack on the bench and moved his college id in his pocket. The id read – Rahul Kaul.
CHAPTER 10
“At least 100 women were allegedly raped by the armed forces on the adjoining night of Monday and Tuesday. The victims ranged from 18 to 80 years in age and included some disabled and pregnant women. The army and government have categorically rejected the allegations labelling it a ‘propaganda’ to defame the country” – the international media were filled with reporting on these lines. The national and local media of course had their mouth shut, due to the curb on press.
Based on the evidence submitted by various human rights groups and independent media, the court held that the case can be admitted. But the catch was the valley, where the incident happened, being an AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) zone, which means the armed forces can take any action without permission, can’t be charged for any excesses, and can only be probed by the armed forces themselves.
2 DAYS LATER
“But how the hell, all these evidence reached global media when we have totally blacked out the internet in the valley?” asked officer Dipak inside the army trial room.
“Because I helped them take it,” Major Kaul said.
“Wait…what?” asked a furious Rajyavardhan. “Oh of course! Your girlfriend, what’s her name? Ahh Aliza”. He moved ahead and grabbed Major Kaul by his collars, “You are a fucking traitor, bloody coward!”
“Listen, you son of a bitch!” Kaul shouted, while pushing back at him. “If someone is a traitor in this room, it’s you and your fucking unit which molested those women. Who the hell do you think you guys are. You guys are going down.”
Gathering himself back, he added, “I have personally visited the victims, collected testimonies and gathered the evidence. Even today their sounds echo in my ears. It sends shivers down my spine when I recall the rape victim who was pregnant had a miscarriage, some are still in hospital from this trauma and most of them will perhaps always be treated an outcast in the valley.”
“Are you done?” Rajyavardhan asked. “The army doesn’t run through monologues. It requires courage and lot of ruthlessness. And in doing that, sometimes some collateral damage happens. As a unit, we need to move ahead, instead of crying like a child!”
“You are a disgrace to this country, fucking rapist pig!”
Eventually, all the evidence were presented to the country’s court based on army’s assessment of the case.
“This is a very horrific case that should shake our conscience. Based on all the evidence from all sides, we are discharging the army unit accused in the case. But, we call the state to pay monetary compensation to all the victims in the case,” the court ruled.
Major Rajyavardhan and his unit hugged each other in jubilation, while Major Kaul stood their in absolute shock.
As everyone was dispersing, Major Rajyavardhan moved towards Major Kaul, and said, “Next time, if you lay your hands at me, I’ll cut you into pieces.”
A distraught Rahul Kaul came out, where journalist Aliza, along with other journalists were standing is disbelief and seeking answers.
Rahul and Aliza are sitting at the nearby tea shop. “I’m sorry Aliza,” Rahul said moving his head in disappointment. Aliza patted her shoulder, “You did your best, major, I’m proud of you!” to which he replied, “Maybe it wasn’t enough”
A week later, the higher court stayed the order of paying any compensation to the victims, saying it will be an acceptance of the crime and hurt the army’s morale.
EPILOGUE
2026
Jammu & Kashmir team created history by winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title. A team comprising of people across communities, coming from the conflict-hit valley. This was truly a watershed moment for the region, perhaps indicating that the younger generation is ready to bury the bloody past and move for a prosperous future built with compassion and plurality.
Major Rahul Kaul (retd) had his eyes moist, when he watched the history being created at home with his family.
Major Rajyavardhan, who had to take voluntary retirement due to health issues, is checking his health report from yesterday’s checkup. The report marks that he has been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS
DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any region, conflict or neighbouring countries is purely un-intentional and coincidental
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
JAI HIND
