The killing of People’s Democratic Party Pampore MLA Abdul Aziz Mir today confirms that for the Valley, the honeymoon is over. One and a half months after the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed government was sworn in promising winds of change, separatists are back, daily death toll is still in double figures and fear has returned to Srinagar streets.It’s almost as if Srinagar is in a state of forced winter hibernation — a city of cave-dwellers who huddle around woodstoves, delay waking up, go to bed early and clutch their kangris or charcoal hand-baskets when they must go out on an errand.For two days, shops have been shut protesting against the death sentence awarded to three of the accused in the Parliament attack case. Separatists have called for a general strike. The Mufti government is in Jammu and the attendance in offices is thin. Phone booths — the only exception during hartals — close early. The only vehicles seen on the roads are private cars or autorickshaws, but there is virtually no traffic after dark. Terrorist no friend: NC NEW DELHI: Farooq Abdullah, National Conference MP, today said ‘‘a terrorist is no one’s friend’’. Reacting to the killing of PDP MLA Abdul Aziz Mir, he said: ‘‘I feel bad for him. He was our block president and when we did not give him a ticket, he joined the PDP.’’ He refrained from commenting on the state’s policy towards tackling insurgency. (ENS) The air is of unease and of a weary acceptance that peace is still a distant dream. Militants, people realise, have started focusing on target killings now, the latest being today’s. There may be fewer shootouts between the extremists and security forces within city limits, but in villages, encounters are routine.After Mufti took over, things had started looking better. His healing touch had actually touched a few chords and the Lashkar-e-Toiba for the first time had announced a ceasefire around Id. But the warmth has dissipated with the first winter wave. People now openly talk about how the romance with peace was temporary. ‘‘It seems nothing will work. Unless there is an end to violence, peace is nothing but a mirage,’’ says Ghulam Nabi Dar, a Pampore schoolteacher. ‘‘Good governance is fine but what we need is a ceasefire — that too from both sides. Just one incident shatters all hopes of peace.’’ He adds there is no indication that Mufti is the answer the Valley seeks.The return of violence and the chilling cold have also made life miserable for the security forces. ‘‘The cold is unbearable for us, especially as we are from areas with hot weather,’’ says Mukesh Kumar, a BSF jawan. According to him, another problem associated with the season is that it brings back phirans (woollen gowns) worn by locals. ‘‘The phiran is a major security risk because the militants generally hide their arms and ammunition beneath it.’’There is no power to make life easier. Although the Mufti government has improved the supply of electricity, this is true of only Srinagar. But even in the city, the voltage is usually abysmally low, ruling out use of electric heaters and the like.
