Jammu & Kashmir, then ruled by a king, acceded to India in 1947 through Article 370 of the Constitution of India.
Over the years, that Article has been breached many times.
Kashmir Valley, home to seven million people, is the centre of the conflict.
The people of the Valley have reacted aggressively to the denial of the autonomy that was promised when J&K acceded to India.
A small number wants the Valley to become part of Pakistan.
An overwhelming majority demands azadi.
Every government in J&K and at the Centre has responded to the challenge with more warnings, more troops and more laws.
What is the reason for recent conflicts?
The people of the Kashmir Valley have alternated between hope and despair.
The current slide to chaos began in July 2016 with the killing of Burhan Wani.
The state government has remained passive and helpless while the armed forces have implemented a muscular policy to quell dissent and disturbance.
Since July 2016 and up to January 20, 2017, the violence in J&K claimed 75 lives.
Besides, 12,000 people were injured, 1,000 lost vision in one eye due to pellet injuries and five were blinded.
What is the present situation?
There were two by-elections — in Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies. Srinagar constituency, spread over three districts, went to the polls on April 9.
The voter turnout was 7.14%, the lowest in 28 years. There was widespread stone-pelting.
Re-polling in 38 booths took place and no voter turned up in 20 of those 38 booths, and the voting percentage in the re-poll was 2.02%.
Meanwhile, polling in Anantnag constituency was postponed to May 25.
The non-vote is actually a vote of no confidence against the state government and the Central government.
The situation cannot be retrieved through a ‘muscular’ policy — tough talk by ministers, dire warnings from the Army Chief, deploying more troops or killing more protesters.
What should be done?
The core issue is not holding territory, it is giving people confidence in the Indian project.
The border with Pakistan should be defended by all means, taking deterrent action against infiltrators but ‘counter-terrorist operations’ in the Valley should be put on hold.
The presence of the army and paramilitary forces should be reduced and the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the Kashmir Valley should be handed over to the J&K police.
Interlocutors should be appointed to pave the way for talks.
The Central government should begin a dialogue with all the stakeholders including civil society groups, student leaders and eventually the separatists.
