Killings of the two more civilians in Shopian in as many days has once again plunged the Valley into a deep mourning. Recurrent killings of the young and in circumstances that otherwise cannot be deemed provocative enough to warrant this bloodshed have created a deep sense of desperation in Valley. Everybody wants an end to this continuing tragedy but nobody knows how and whether it can ever be done. At Ganowpora in Shopian, two civilians were killed by the army during a protest on Saturday. The youth were killed when they reportedly resisted the Armys entry into the village to remove the banners of the militants slain in an encounter two days ago. In retaliation, Army fired at the crowd killing two persons and critically injuring another. Earlier, during the encounter itself, the security forces had killed a youth who was a part of the protest to rescue the trapped two militants, who were later killed. Two girls were also critically injured in the firing, receiving bullets in their heads.
A familiar spectacle has unfolded since. The separatists have called for hartal. Government has ordered an enquiry. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has called up the defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman to seek action against the army personnel. Police have filed an FIR against the Army, even naming in it the Army officer Major Aditya of 10 Garhwal Regiment and his unit for killing the two youth. The BJP has defended the Army, with one of its MLAs even justifying the killings of the youth. What army did was an act of self defence, for the security of the nation and as per law. It was extremely important and much needed. Army did the right thing, the legislator Ravinder Raina said.
Senior BJP leader Jitendra Singh said that nothing should be said or done that would lower the morale of the Indian Army. The nation is behind the army and we should not do anything that undermines the morale of our army, Dr Singh said
This is such a cynical and a politically convenient reading of the situation. At the same time, such statements are deeply offending. Implicit in them is the deeply ingrained prejudice against a particular community. What kind of a political discourse would defend the killings of the unarmed teenagers by the security forces. What kind of a political mentality would encourage more such killings as Ravinder Raina has done. Cant they just feign some sadness? If anything, such utter disregard and contempt for the civilian killings only lends greater legitimacy to the cause that animates the lingering discontent in the state. If a system is hostile to a community to the extent of exulting at the killings of its teenagers, how can one not identify with the resistance of the community against it. System is there for the people not vice versa. And only a ruling structure that draws its legitimacy and power from the people has right to exist.
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