On 8 July 2016, Burhan Wani, a 22 year-old leader of the armed
group Hizbul Mujahedin, was killed by the security forces in
Indian-administered Kashmir. Wani had been highly active on
social media and had been called a “Twitter terrorist”. Tens of
thousands attended his funeral, at which clashes broke out
between the security forces and protestors. The security forces
fired live ammunition into the crowd, killing several people. One
police officer was also killed.
Since Wani’s death, the Kashmir Valley has seen its biggest
outbreak of protest and violence since 2010. The authorities have
declared a succession of curfews and closed down mobile phone
services and the media. Protestors have organised a series of
general strikes and there have been regular public rallies
against Indian rule. Schools, colleges and universities have also
been closed. The economy has been badly hit. Funerals have often
led to further clashes between protestors and the security
forces. Many civilians have been killed, injured (including
through the use of pellet guns by the authorities) or arrested.
Armed militants have increased their attacks on the security
forces. In September 2016 an attack on an army base killed 19
Indian soldiers – the army’s worst loss of life for well over a
decade.
There has also been a serious flaring up of tension between India
and Pakistan, with regular exchanges between their forces along
the Line of Control. These have led to significant military
casualties. Senior figures on both sides have been ratcheting up
the hostile rhetoric, leading to growing fears of a major
escalation in conflict between the two countries.
