Srinagar, August 21
The Lashkar-e-Jabbar, a hitherto unknown separatist group, has issued fresh threats against women not wearing burqa and set September 1 as the new deadline for adhering to the “Islamic dress code”. The last deadline expired on August 15. It was strictly followed in some parts of south Kashmir.

According to a spokesman of the outfit, as quoted by local newspapers here, the cadres of the group would target women dressed “immodestly” after the expiry of the deadline on September 1. The police has already increased its presence around women’s colleges and higher secondary schools to prevent any attack by militants against unveiled women.

Three front-ranking militant outfits — Hizbul Mujahideen, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba — criticising the developments, have already blamed government “agencies” for the “purdah movement”. In separate statements, these organisations have clarified that they have only asked women to observe purdah and are not involved in any acid attack on women without burqa. These outfits have expressed ignorance about the existence of any outfit called Lashkar-e-Jabbar.

A spokesman of the Hizbul Mujahideen here said that the recent attacks on women were a ploy to “undermine” the freedom struggle in Kashmir.

Officials here claim that those forcing the dress code are foreign militant groups. “They kill innocent persons and blame the government and the security forces for the killings” said a senior officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

This is not for the first time that a “purdah” movement has gained momentum in the Kashmir valley during the past about 12 years of militancy. It was first started in 1990. The recent acid attacks have unnerved womenfolk in the valley, especially in Srinagar city.