Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election Traal: Assembly elections are going to be held in Jammu and Kashmir after a decade. The last assembly elections were held in 2014 and a lot has changed since then. The beautiful Jammu and Kashmir, called heaven on earth, has now become a union territory and Ladakh is another union territory separated from it. Elections for the 90-member assembly will be held in three phases. During the first phase of elections, votes will be cast on a very important seat. We are talking about the Tral assembly constituency.
Tral assembly constituency of Jammu and Kashmir is a name that has been in the headlines for decades. This area is not only known for its natural beauty, but it has also been identified as a stronghold of terrorism. The name of Tral emerges again and again in the politics, society and security scenario here. To understand this complexity of Tral and its political journey, we have to look at its historical and current aspects.
Beautiful Tral located in Pulwama district
Tral is located in Pulwama district of South Kashmir and the area is famous for its hills, dense forests and rolling valleys. The population here is mostly Muslim, and people depend on agriculture. The main industry of the area is horticulture, especially apple cultivation. However, since the 1990s, the atmosphere here has been tense due to terrorism.
The history of Tral is not only political but also includes social and cultural streams. The region also witnessed the influence of various movements during the freedom struggle. However, the situation here started changing in the 1980s and 1990s. Tral gradually became a center of terrorism and the area became a stronghold of terrorist organizations like Hizbul Mujahideen. Tral witnessed a long period of terrorism and armed conflict since the 1990s.
Burhan Wani spread terror from here
The name of Burhan Wani brings to mind the Tral region of Jammu and Kashmir. He was a face that gave a new direction to terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, especially Tral, in the 2010s. His activities shook not only this region but the entire Jammu and Kashmir. Burhan Wani used his online presence and social media to attract youth towards terrorism.
Beginning of terror in Tral
Burhan Wani belonged to a prosperous family of Tral. His family was educated and respected in the society. But in his teenage years, he joined a terrorist organization like Hizbul Mujahideen. He left his studies and got involved in terrorist activities. Burhan Wani’s way of spreading terror was different from other terrorists. He used social media to post videos and photos in which he was seen with weapons. This was the first time that a terrorist appeared in Kashmir in this way. His new style attracted the youth of Kashmir, and many youths came under his influence and adopted the path of terrorism. Burhan Wani made his identity among the local people and gradually he became known as ‘Poster Boy’. He created an atmosphere of terror not only in Tral but in the whole of Kashmir. The security forces had to face a lot of difficulties due to his activities.
Encounter by security forces and end
On 8 July 2016, security forces launched an operation in Kokernag area of ​​Anantnag district in south Kashmir on receiving intelligence about Burhan Wani’s activities. Burhan and his two associates were hiding in a house in the area. Security forces cordoned off the area and an encounter ensued. The encounter lasted for a few hours. Burhan Wani and his two associates were eventually killed. The encounter was a major success for the security forces as Burhan Wani’s death proved to be a major setback for the militants.
Post-encounter impact
Burhan Wani’s death was followed by massive protests and violence in the Kashmir Valley. This wave of protests spread across Kashmir, and clashes between security forces and protesters continued for several months. Hundreds of people were injured and many lost their lives in this violence. Burhan Wani’s death further complicated the problem of terrorism in Kashmir. The youth who came under his influence were still taking the path of terrorism, and instability increased in the Kashmir Valley. However, the security forces took several steps to control this situation and gradually peace was restored. Burhan Wani started a new stream of terrorism in Tral, which misled the youth of Kashmir. Even after his death, his influence was felt in the Kashmir Valley, but with time, this influence was reduced by the efforts of the security forces and the government. Now democracy is flourishing in Tral.
Political influence in Tral
Tral has always been a sensitive area from a political point of view. The politics here has been deeply influenced by separatist ideology. However, mainstream parties of the state and the Centre have also tried to make their mark in Tral. Major political parties of Jammu and Kashmir—National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress—have fielded their candidates in Tral. But in the last few decades, the PDP has strengthened its hold in this area. The party’s sympathetic and Kashmir-centric policy has attracted voters here. Senior PDP leader and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed also worked a lot in the Tral area, which brought local support to the party.
Who won the last assembly elections?
If we leave aside the controversial elections of 1987, candidates of National Conference (JKNC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been winning from here almost every time. In the 1987 Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections, Congress’s Ghulam Nabi Naik had won. In the last three assembly elections (2008-2014), PDP’s Mushtaq Ahmed Shah has been winning. PDP has again fielded Mushtaq Ahmed Shah.
Overall, in recent years, security forces’ actions and anti-terrorism operations have decreased in Tral. Despite the protests that followed Burhan Wani’s death, peace has gradually returned here. People are now increasingly confident that a stable and peaceful life is possible. They have begun to believe that democracy is the only way through which they can raise their voice. Locals are now hoping for a better future. Many youths in Tral are now joining mainstream politics and giving priority to development issues. Locals say that if the government focuses on better education, health and infrastructure here, Tral can also come into the mainstream of development.