The Union Home Ministry has reportedly told all government agencies to avoid mentioning self-styled Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani in any of its communications. Wani, who was killed by Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir in July last year, has become a rallying point for terrorists.
Now, with his death anniversary coming up, the Central government believes there could be an uptick in anti-India activities in the Valley around the time. A similar surge in unrest had been witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir following Wani's death. Stone-pelting and attacks on law enforcement personnel had seen a sharp rise.
Wani has since his death been venerated by terrorists and Pakistan alike. Even Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has praised Wani, and at a stage no less than the United Nations! And that was two months after wanted terrorist Hafiz Saeed had already called Wani a martyr.
Now, to avoid such situations, the Union Home Ministry has told all agencies to stop mentioning Wani in any communication. A senior ministry official has been quoted by the Indian Express as saying: "For all future references, the incidents will be recorded as an encounter of three militants on July 8 and not Burhan Wani."
He added: "It is much safer as the government is not committing to anything even if at a later stage the information supplied regarding the name and the organisation to which the militant belongs turns out to be inaccurate."
Wani's death has cast a long shadow on the Valley, and that shadow was only be expected to spread further following the death of his successor Sabzar Bhat, who was last month neutralised by Indian Army personnel.
It now remains to be seen whether the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi manages to keep things under control in Jammu and Kashmir this time.
