Defense minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Jammu in the wake of the killings of five soldiers in an ambush by the militants underlines the union government’s seriousness to take on the escalating militancy in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. The defense minister’s presence in the region to review security measures is not merely a ceremonial gesture but an indication of acknowledging the severity of the situation. Since the summer of 2021 and especially throughout this year, Jammu has witnessed a conspicuous spike in violence, which now warrants an urgent attention by the union government. A few days ago, the Army chief also made a visit to the region. Besides the need to take stock of the evolving security situation in Poonch and Rajouri, both defense minister Singh and the Army chief reached out to the families of the three civilians allegedly killed in the custody of the army. They had been rounded up for questioning along with over a dozen others after the killings of five soldiers. The welcome outreach will go a long way to address the alienation among the Gujjar community, whose support is seen as critical to combat the rising insurgency in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
However, the government will have to go beyond meeting the families to win their hearts and minds. The demand for a fair and impartial investigation has reverberated not only among locals but also among political parties and humanitarian organizations. And to be fair to the Army, it has quickly moved to conduct its own inquiry, coupled with the police’s registration of a murder case against unidentified individuals. It is a step in the direction of fixing accountability. Now, the army must ensure that the investigations are conducted meticulously, with full cooperation among all stakeholders. The families of the victims deserve not just words of solace but concrete steps towards ensuring justice, accountability, and preventing such tragic incidents in the future.
In 2020 also, the Army had moved with alacrity to hold its personnel accountable following the killing of three youth killed in an encounter at Amshipora in Shopian. However, the armed forces tribunal recently suspended the life sentence of the army Captain who was found guilty of killing these youth, something that has come as a setback to the families of the victims. But considering the seriousness with which the union government and the Army has taken up the killings of the three civilians in Poonch, the investigation will be taken to its logical conclusion and justice delivered to their families.
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