TALE OF DIVIDED KASHMIR

Tale of divided Kashmir
Incarcerated for no fault of her

TARIQ NAQASH


Muzaffarabad, July 7: A woman from a border village of Jammu and Kashmir who crossed the Line of Control after being beaten to the pulp by her brother repents the decision she took in a fit of pique and wants to go back but covert and overt problems in such situations stand in the way of her repatriation.
Maryam Bibi, 28, is often seen crying her eyes out in her cell in police station of Athmuqam, some 80 kilometres northeast of here in Neelum valley, where she has been lodged for the past two weeks, and makes frequent passionate appeals to the SHO and every visitor to facilitate her reunion with family.
Belonging to Karhama village on the other side, Bibi crossed the unmarked dividing line in the dead of night nearly four months ago, entering Tarban village in the upper belt of picturesque Neelum valley.
She was sheltered by Chaudhry Abdul Rashid, a noted political personality of the area, who brought the unplanned crossing in the notice of authorities shortly afterwards to avoid any complications.
Athmuqam police station SHO Khawaja Arshad Shafi told Greater Kashmir that after some time they handed over the woman to her distant relative living in a camp of Kashmiri refugees on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad. But after one month, the relative refused to undertake the responsibility and brought her back to Athmuqam police, fearing that the traumatic woman could take any extreme step which could subsequently land him in trouble.
The only unspoiled room of police station, serving as accommodation of some staff, was then emptied and converted into women's lockup where Bibi was quartered, the SHO said.
He told that initially they kept her free but later she had to be confined to the cell in view of her state of depression.
During interaction with a group of reporters, Bibi recalled that when she visited her brother to consult him on a family matter he not only severely beat her up but also threatened to kill her.
"I don't know why and how I decided to cross the border (LoC) without even letting my husband know about my decision," she said, in Gojjari dialect.
Bibi cannot control her emotions when she talks about her sons, 6-year old Fayaz and two and a half year old Shakir.
She is more worried about Fayaz who she says is physically disabled and "was gifted by the God after much prayers and invocations."
The agony of separation from husband and kids and fears of its perpetuation have aggravated her condition.
"I realise that my repatriation is difficult. Indian troops will beat me. I am scared. But I want to reunite with my Fayaz and Shakir…,"she said, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
The SHO said Bibi's husband and children were regularly visiting a 'meeting point' along River Neelum in a vain hope to get her back.
For the past several years the divided Kashmiri families assemble along the opposite banks of Neelum River, serving as LoC in most parts of the Valley, to see each other and toss letters and gifts across. The 'meetings' take place on specified days near Keran village, ahead of Athmuqam.
Bibi, however has not been able to make it to that point.
"We are afraid she can jump into the river in a hope to swim across but will end up her life," the SHO said.
He said he did not know as to how long they had to keep the woman in their possession.
"We are helpless in this regard. Her repatriation is out of our jurisdiction," he said.
India and Pakistan had decided during the fourth round of foreign secretary level composite dialogue that both sides would facilitate speedy return of inadvertent LoC crossers. The understanding was renewed recently but nevertheless a big question mark however hangs over the fate of Maryam Bibi as nobody has shown interest in ending her plight.
Meanwhile, the Neelum valley chapter of a non-governmental organisation, Press for Peace, has called upon the governments in Islamabad and New Delhi to facilitate the early return of Bibi to her home village across the LoC.
"She has gone through a terrible ordeal for committing a minor mistake. Now both sides should take mercy on her and arrange her repatriation," said PFP office bearer Jalaluddin Mughal.
Courtesy Greater Kashmir, July 8, 2008