As we look beneath the surface of these overt acts of violence, it becomes undeniable that the very fabric of our daily lives is being warped by modern influences
SYED NISSAR H. GILANI
The recent murder of a thirteen-year-old girl, brutally cut down while on her way to attend Quranic lessons at a local Darsgah in the Galwanpora village of Budgam, is an act so inherently savage and inhuman that it defies comprehension. It is a crime that could only be committed by a mind stripped of all human empathy.
Tragically, this is not an isolated horror for the district. Only a few years ago, a similarly brutal murder shook the Budgam area. In that instance, the Budgam Police handled the crisis with exceptional professional efficiency; under the leadership of the then SSP, Syed Tahir Gilani, a dedicated investigation team successfully cracked the case and apprehended the culprit within 48 hours.
In this most recent tragedy, the police have once again demonstrated commendable promptness, narrowing down the investigation to swiftly identify and arrest the prime suspect.
Yet, while swift police action provides a measure of legal redress, it cannot heal the deeper wounds inflicted upon our collective consciousness. For those of us belonging to older generations, these gruesome crimes against young women are entirely alien to the Kashmir we knew. Growing up, such violence was virtually unheard of.
In those gentler times, even a minor verbal spat between neighbors was frowned upon, viewed as a shameful mark of poor breeding and a violation of community decorum. To witness our society transition from an era of deep mutual respect to one marred by such beastly violence is deeply unsettling.
Compounding this sense of societal alarm is the terrifying reality that violence is now breaching the very institutions sworn to protect us. Just days ago, another brutal and shocking incident shattered the peace of Kandi village in District Kupwara. In a horrifying turn of events, a serving police constable turned his official rifle upon his young wife, ending her life in a flash of domestic rage, before attempting to turn the weapon on himself.
While prompt rescue efforts managed to pull the critically injured constable from the brink, shifting him to an army hospital for advanced treatment, the cold reality remains: a household has been destroyed by the very hands meant to safeguard it.
The Digital Erosion of Trust
As we look beneath the surface of these overt acts of violence, it becomes undeniable that the very fabric of our daily lives is being warped by modern influences. The internet, while a tool of connectivity, has crept into our households as a double-edged sword. It has given rise to a parallel epidemic of horrifying dimensions: financial scams, systemic cheating, and a deluge of fake information targeting every imaginable subject—be it religious, scientific, or commercial.
Trust, the historic cornerstone of our society, is disappearing at an alarming pace.
Today, almost every other family in the country is falling victim to digital predators. I myself have been targeted dozens of times, receiving fraudulent phone calls from unknown numbers where individuals pose as high-ranking officers of various state agencies. While these impostors received nothing from me but a swift, befitting rebuke that ensured they would never dare to call my number again, many innocent citizens are not so fortunate. It is deeply painful to see vulnerable groups, particularly pensioners who have spent their entire lives contributing honestly to society, being systematically cheated of their hard-earned life savings by one digital ruse or another.
The Grip of the Substance Menace
Parallel to this digital rot is an even more immediate, physical devastation: the scourge of drug addiction that has quietly, yet aggressively, entrenched itself within our youth. The ground reality of this crisis is deeply pathetic. Recently, in a vibrant but far-flung district, a young, smart boy of around thirty years old stopped my car.
In a state of sheer desperation, he grabbed my driver by the collar, refusing to let go until he forcefully snatched a hundred-rupee note from his hand. The onlookers who quickly gathered around the vehicle later informed us of the tragic truth: this promising young man was completely in the grip of drug addiction, terrorising commuters daily just to fund his next dose.
Thankfully, the government has recognised the magnitude of this crisis and has taken robust initiatives to eradicate this menace once and for all. Tangible, positive results are finally beginning to surface on the ground, offering a glimmer of hope. However, law enforcement cannot fight this battle alone; preventative vigilance must be institutionalised. A mandatory, uncompromising watch must be established over our educational institutions, particularly private schools.
Reports indicate that unscrupulous vendors are operating right outside school gates, deliberately attempting to peddle drugs to impressionable children. Schools located in relatively isolated or secluded areas are especially vulnerable and require immediate, heightened security corridors.
A Call for Divine Benevolence and Reflection
If we are to rescue the soul of our society from this dual onslaught of moral decay and substance abuse, we must act collectively—as administrators, parents, and citizens—before the Kashmir of our memories is entirely lost to the shadows.
As the sacred days of Eid-ul-Adha approach, we are reminded that these are times of profound piety, devotion, and prayer. In the face of such deep societal challenges, let us collectively turn our hearts toward Almighty Allah, praying for His boundless benevolence, His guidance, and His forgiveness for our shortcomings. May this auspicious occasion inspire a renewal of conscience, compassion, and mutual trust within our fractured social fabric.
Eid Mubarak to all my friends, well-wishers, and relatives.
(The author is a former civil servant. Email: nisargilani57748@gmail.com)