India's
northeastern border with China in Ladakh, is a vast hinterland that
is desolate, inhospitable and forlorn. A British army officer,
Francis Younghusband, who visited this area in 1889 has aptly
described it in these words of disgust.
“ Of
all parts of the world, this is the most Godforsaken and dreadful in
any way. The plain itself is over 17000 feet and consists of an open
expanse of gravel, bounded by dull,barren hills. Across it
incessantly sweep winds of piercing cold. To add to the gloom, the
plain is strewn with the bones of the animals, who have succumbed to
the strain of carrying load at these great heights.”
Till
1947, all this area and much larger areas to the north and to the
east, belonged to erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state ruled by Maharaja
from Srinagar. Except for occasional summer patrol by the Maharaja's
army, the areas were left to themselves for most of the time of the
year. Pakistan, occupied northern regions by force in 1947 and China
grabbed thousands of square kilometers of the eastern part of this
region in 1950's decade. When newly Independent India, realised this,
it started moving its army in the region. This led to the border
clash between India and China in 1962, in which India was badly
defeated and humiliated. Ever since that, the line of actual control
has been a most sensitive and dangerous place to survive with
thousands of soldiers from both sides positioned on both sides, in
battle ready state.
Prior
to 1950's, for thousands of years, a branch of silk route passed
through this Godforsaken region, that connected Kashmir with Xinjiang
(Chinese Turkmenistan) cities of Kashgar, Yarkand and Hotan. Except
for the trade caravans, no one really passed through here as there
are no villages or nomads here. Now also, except for the army camps,
there is no habitation here.
No
wonder, that it was a a huge surprise for a patrol of the India army,
when it encountered three men in this desolate and inhospitable area
on June 12, 2013, with no human habitation in the vicinity. The three
men- Salamo, Abdul Khaliq and Adil Thorsong-, one of whom is
one-eyed, are aged between 18 and 23. They were nabbed inside Indian
territory near Army camp at Sultan chusku, near the old trade route.
The men, who know only two languages -- Yarkandi and Uyghur -- gave a
different version about their family background and the way used by
them to come into India. They were also found carrying with them a
big political map and two smaller versions of the document with
Arabic and Yarkandi script on it. They also carried improvised swords
and knives, tinned food including egg powder (useful in higher
region), Chinese currency of over 900 Yuan and Chinese leather
jackets. Since nearest habitation across the Line of Actual
Control(LAC) is in North of Karakoram range, it was assumed by the
army that they could have entered through either Raki Nallah, Jeevan
Nallah or North of Daulat Beig Oldie in the Depsang sector.
As the
three men could not give a clear description of the areas used by
them to come to India, there was an apprehension that the three
could have been headed towards Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir which is
barely 30 kms up North of the area where they were nabbed. The trio
was moved to Indo Tibetan border police camp at Margo camp for
interrogation. The men told their interrogators about their dreams to
enter India and earn money as they were facing acute poverty in their
region. They said that they were mesmerised by the charm of
Bollywood superstars – Shah Rukh Khan and Roshan and wanted to
come to India because they had seen it as a land of prosperity on the
sliver screen. The men, who are from Kargalilik in Xianjang province
also told during their interrogation, which was done separately, that
the movies of Khan and Roshan were a hit in their area.
Indian
agencies were rattled with the developments, as the trio were Uyghur
Muslims and gave their origins in Xinjiang. According to the
intelligence with them, Uyghur Muslims are being trained in Pakistani
terror camps. China has even accused Pakistan openly of fanning
terror in Xinjiang. Several Pakistani terror groups are known to
have footprints in Xinjang. Given the circumstances, the men were
suspected to be heading to Pakistan for terror training.
Now,
almost after two months of interrogation, the authorities have given
a clean chit to the trio. Detailed interrogation with help from
translators and investigations of the men has not revealed anything
incriminating about them, except the absence of valid travel
documents. Authorities say: "The Arabic script on the political
maps is actual Uyghur language, which is written in Arabic script.
The maps are easily available in markets of the region to which the
men belong. They have nothing else to suggest that they are either
criminals or terrorists."
Interestingly,
now China has asked that the men be handed over back to them.
However, since they have illegally entered India without a valid
passport, they will be just handed over to local police for further
action on passport violation. Anyone, who has any knowledge of the
region, where the trio was nabbed, would appreciate the extra
ordinary courage, determination and perseverance of these three
ordinary men, who crossed one of the most inhospitable region,
without any help or proper equipment.
Recently
I have read some travelogues describing travels made by some
westerners through central Asia and Xinjiang region of China. All
these describe the tremendous popularity of Bollywood actors and
films in that region. Apparently, the only films they watch there,
are all Bollywood flicks. India must make use of this soft power. As
far as this trio is considered, it is most important that they are
allowed to see Mumbai and meet their beloved Shah Rukh Khan and
Hrithik Roshan, if it is decided to send them back. However, I think
that India should really give them political asylum and make use of
their in depth knowledge about Xinjiang, the border terrain and their
methods of survival in such adverse conditions.
12
August 2013
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