Aversion to the media and a sense of fear on Tuesday gripped the house of Mujeeb Gattoo, Jawaharlal Nehru University’s rusticated student. The house is located in the middle-class area of New Colony, Bijbehara town, south of Srinagar.
Relatives of Mujeeb — who faces rustication for two semesters for raising slogans during the February 9 on-campus protests on Afzal Guru’s death anniversary — warn the media against visiting the house. “Our mother is a heart patient. We have not discussed the issue in front of her. We don’t want any mental exertion on her,” said Mujeeb’s elder brother. Mujeeb’s father, a retired bank manager, is also reluctant to speak on the issue.
“Do you think seeking justice for Guru or raising slogans of azaadi is a crime? I don’t think so,” said a relative, pleading anonymity.
Many relatives and friends of Mujeeb see the rustication as “an attempt to choke the space for Kashmiri students further”.
“It’s nothing new. Students of Kashmir have been treated differently in the past too. Unfortunately, they will continue to face such punishment. However, I thank Allah that Gattoo will be able to complete his degree,” said a close relative on condition of anonymity.
His house in Anantnag district’s Bijbehara town is just around 200 metres away from the graveyard, which houses 51 graves of civilians killed in the firing by the security forces in 1993, during protests over the Hazratbal siege.
“This is Kashmir and we all have suffered and have bruised souls,” said a friend of Mujeeb.
