The 24th anniversary of the burning of the historic town of Chrari Sharief and the shrine of Alamdar-e-Kashmir Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noornai (RA) will be observed here today.
In the morning of May 11, 1995, the historic shrine of the Sufi saint was gutted in a mysterious fire which has been blamed by the officials on a group of highly trained militant led by Mast Gul who were held in a siege in the town.
A day earlier, a fire had erupted in Trajibal and Baba Mohalla localities which spread to the adjoining areas of the highly congested town, resulting in complete devastation of the town.
“It lasted barely an hour,” a report about the fire in shrine in India Today states, “But it threatens to irrevocably alter the course of the six-year-long violent and dogged secessionist movement in the Kashmir Valley. When the flames had died down, reducing the sacred shrine at Charar-e-Sharief to a smouldering heap, it was 3.00 a.m. on May 11. In a few hours, yet another dark dawn would break over the Valley.”
Despite 24 years having passed, the authorities have failed to complete the construction of the shrine which has resulted in widespread anger among the natives of the town against the state administration.
After an amazing run of six months without curfew, rage ruled again as paramilitary troops forced an irate population to stay indoors. Although 200 houses, including government buildings, were burnt down in Srinagar and Anantnag, prompt action limited any further destruction and violence. But long-term damage had been done. The Pakistanis, as expected, went to town, threatening to raise the issue at pan-Islamic fora.
Like the shrine, up in smoke went prospects of an early peace. So did the Government's hopes of kick-starting the political process.