Armys firing at the villagers who opposed its Iftar party at Dreed Kalipora village in Shopian has come as a severe blow to the unilateral ceasefire announced by the centre. It would be difficult for the Army to live down the wrong it has done anytime soon and the anger that has been generated as a result. It is true that the Army had gone to the village to host the Iftar party as a goodwill gesture. But it is also true that such unsolicited gesture betrays a poor sense of judgement. It shows a simplistic understanding of the situation of the state. Considering what has happened in the South Kashmir over the past some years, the killings of the militants and the civilians that have taken place and the consequent grief and alienation in the society, it was ill-advised for the Army to host an Iftar. And that too without allegedly taking police into confidence. And also going to the village despite the reported opposition from the village elders. And then appallingly enough, firing at the people when they objected to the Iftar party and protested. How can you do this? Use force even to perform a goodwill gesture? It is getting it so horribly wrong.
Best course for the Army under the circumstances would have been to wind up its Iftar stall and leave politely. And if at all the crowd has turned violent and pelted stones, Army has itself to blame for it as it hadnt informed the police. Had the police been on the scene, it could have been in a better position to control the situation through the use of non-lethal weapons, other than the pellet guns which have otherwise been a favourite crowd control recourse for the state in recent years. But precautions like these are hardly deemed necessary by the security agencies in a place and in an environment where killing and injuring people entails no accountability.
And in such a state of affairs, everything is possible, most ironically even firing at people if they are not ready to be the recipients of an alleged good deed. And in cases like these where the security agencies are manifestly at fault, probe is something that is the last on anybodys mind. People would rather be spared from the travesty of it. Anyway, the enquiry is unlikely to be ordered, but even if it is held its outcome is a forgone conclusion. The tragedy of the ongoing killings and injuries is beyond the condemnations and the false probes. It is the moral vacuum in which these take place. Those who preside over them brazen it out, feigning no responsibility for them but are duly revolted by little more than the misdemeanours of the opponents. New Delhi seeks to keep the deaths under wraps and exhibits little compunction for them. In fact, these are justified as a legitimate response to the stone-pelting protesters. And barring some feeble exceptions, the world wouldnt hear of them. One only hopes that this unconscionable indifference ends and both New Delhi and the world see Kashmir for what it is a place of lingering conflict which needs urgent attention and engagement to resolve.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
