Fear and ‘Safe Zones’ in Kashmir

The dramatic and hostile reordering of Jammu and Kashmir’s political status vis-a-vis the Indian state on August 5, 2019 was followed by a systematic emasculation of the old political order and its replacement by a new set of elected leaders. The BJP-led central government felt that taking control of local governance institutions (panchayat and municipal committees) was the best way to neutralise the traditional political parties and its legislators in the absence of a functioning assembly. But nearly two years down the line, grassroots democracy has become a hostage in the battle between the militants and government forces. There have been threats and executions and instances of elected representatives fleeing their native