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RAJOURI MARCH 06:-March 2012 remains one of the most unforgettable chapters of my life. The visit of Praveen Togadia to Rajouri town created a situation that none of us had anticipated. What began as a routine political event soon turned into a tense atmosphere that disturbed the long-standing peace and harmony of our town.
I still remember that unfortunate day of March 6, 2012, when, due to the actions of certain vested political interests, the situation deteriorated and the district administration had to impose curfew in Rajouri. The peaceful environment of our town was suddenly replaced by fear and uncertainty. The then state government tried its best to restore normalcy and bring back peace, but the situation remained tense for several days.
During that difficult time, some members of the Hindu community demanded my arrest and reportedly told the administration that they would open their shops only after Shafqat Wani was taken into custody. Even today, I have not received an answer as to why I was made the scapegoat in that entire episode.
However, keeping in mind the larger interest of my beloved Rajouri and its people, I decided to put peace above everything else. I thought about the poor families who had no food at home because of the shutdown, about mothers struggling to provide essentials, and about crying children who had no milk due to the curfew-like situation. For their sake, and for the sake of communal harmony, I chose to surrender.
On March 15, 2012, I voluntarily surrendered before the police despite having committed no crime. I spent eight nights in police lock-up, facing the pain of detention for a case that was purely politically motivated. Some individuals who had personal grudges against me used that moment to try to damage my image and reputation.
What was even more painful was that the police and agencies were aware of who was actually responsible for triggering the entire episode. Yet, no action was taken against that individual. Instead, I became the target.
Those days of detention remain etched in my memory. They remind me of the price one sometimes has to pay for standing firm in difficult times. But even today, I hold no bitterness in my heart. My only intention then, as it is now, was to safeguard the peace, brotherhood, and unity of Rajouri.
My fault, perhaps, was only this: that I was innocent.
“Mera qasoor ye tha ke main beqasoor tha.”
— Shafqat Wani
Editor, GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL
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