‘Trouble-makers’ to first-time voters

Bismah Malik

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Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 14

Pheran-clad Muntazir (23) with “keffiyeh” (Palestinian scarf) covering his face along with two more friends Aadil (19) and Shafat (20) stood in a queue to vote for the first time at Government High School, Lal Bazaar, of the Eidgah constituency in Srinagar, which grew larger by the hour.

Muntazir was seen clarifying to the elderly voters around that he and his friends are not stone-throwers, but first-time voters.

“I think my clothes give an impression that I have come to cause trouble here, but I have come to cast my vote,” Muntazir said.

His house is a few metres away from the volatile Rajouri Kadal of downtown Srinagar which witnesses ding-dong battles (stone-pelting incidents) on weekly basis.

“We have seen it all — the violence, the pain and the fear of growing up in a place where death stalks you. However, now we want to try something new. May be voting can help us solve our problems,” said Muntazir, who is a first-timer voter and a computer engineering student.

Growing up in the 90s was difficult for the old city youth due to which they are often called “the children of conflict”.

“My friends are often picked up by the local police and the security forces for mere suspicion that they might throw stones. We tried protesting against such biased authorities, but it hasn’t yielded any result. Voting is an option that may serve some justice,” he added.

His friend Aadil, who is a private company employee, is rather ecstatic that he is voting for the first time. He was in fact handed over the voter registration lists by the polling staff so that he ensured that all his friends turned up to vote.

“Honestly speaking, unemployment in Srinagar has frustrated the youth. That anger comes out in the form of stone-throwing incidents and then we are clubbed as trouble-makers. Let’s see if we are able to do away with that image,” Aadil said.