warvet

  DANGEROUS KASHMIR     As I crossed the new Banihal tunnel called ‘Navyug Tunnel’ and emerged in the Kashmir valley one july morning in 2023, I stopped at a Toll Plaza. Kashmir had been quiet for past few years and normalcy had been restored. However, I had not forgotten my earlier stint in the valley when militancy was rife. I paid the toll fee and as I moved on my son asked me why had I paid. We faujis are exempt from toll on National Highways on production of I Card. I told him I didn’t want to be shot for Rs 200. The incident reminded me of those bleak days. I was with my wife and infant son driving to Jammu sometime in 2004. On our way to Jawahar tunnel, we stopped at Qazigund for Breakfast. We had Paranthas in the tourist lodge and were moving to the car when a vagabond in tattered pheran approached me. He had long matted hair, black shaggy beard and he gesticulated with his hands in the air and grinned. He asked me for some alms. I had carried a packet of bread fr...