Lone's murder threatens to plunge Kashmir into fresh turmoil
Reuters Posted online: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 1609 hours IST Updated: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 1817 hours IST
Srinagar, May 22: Hundreds of mourners shouting "Freedom for Kashmir" gathered on Wednesday at the home of assassinated Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone whose murder threatened to plunge the disputed region into new turmoil. "All of you look at his face, it does not show fear, it shows a sense of knowledge—he knew his assassin had come," his daughter, Shabnam Lone, a Supreme Court lawyer, told mourners on the lawn outside the house in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state.
The 70-year-old Lone, who had survived several attempts on his life, was gunned down late on Tuesday by two assailants at a political rally in Srinagar. Some leaders have blamed Pakistan for the moderate politician's death while Pakistan accused India's "occupying forces" in Kashmir. The death of the lawyer-turned-politician coincided with a trip by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to the state, at the heart of an escalating military standoff between India and Pakistan that has fuelled fears of war.
The government had regarded Lone as someone with whom it might be able to work to end the bloody separatist revolt that has raged in the Himalayan state for a dozen years. Student Mujahid Bilal said he feared the consequences of the separatist leader's killing. "Lone's assassination gives a clear message—more bloodshed will follow in the blood-soaked Valley." Thousands were expected to attend the funeral on Wednesday. Lone's body lay on a bed on the lawn wrapped in a white cloth, his bearded face visible. His wife, daughter and other women mourners surrounded his body, wailing and beating their chests. The funeral was expected to held in the Martyr's Graveyard at Idgah in Srinagar's congested old city but the family said it still had to make a final decision on the location.
Security in the state, already tight for Vajpayee's visit, was bolstered after Lone's killing. "The situation is so far well under control," R.S. Bhullar, a senior official of Indian's Border Security Force, told Reuters. Police frisked every mourner entering Lone's residence and soldiers flooded streets that were deserted as a result of a general strike called by the Hurriyat Conference to protest against Vajpayee's visit.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of separatists whose goals range from greater autonomy for Kashmir to joining Pakistan, had alleged human rights violations had risen ahead of Vajpayee's trip. Lone, a key figure in the group, had angered separatist hardliners by saying he was not against dialogue "with India or anyone else".
While some Indian leaders said Pakistan was to blame for Lone's killing, Pakistan accused India's "occupying forces" in Kashmir of being responsible. Others said it might have been the work of hardliners opposed to any discussion with India in the run-up to state elections set for later this year. The Central government had hoped to get Lone to take part in the crucial vote. To 65-year-old retired government employee, Abdul Aziz, it didn't matter who was responsible. "It can be anybody—India or Pakistan. Both of them are fighting for their own interests, not for the people of Kashmir. We've lost a moderate leader and we're the only losers."
