Another son, another brave son of Kashmir was murdered in cold blood by so called security forces in Palhalan on February 9. Another mother of Kashmir has to bear, the unbearable loss on earth and that is to see the blood stained body of her dear son. Another father in Kashmir was stabbed in heart. Another sister lost her brother who could have bid her farewell at the time of her marriage.
The only question which comes to my mind while looking at Kashmir from the peaceful environment in Delhi is that when this is going to stop in Kashmir? When? Why J&K Police is not able to understand that by killing unarmed youth on streets they not only commit inhuman crimes but also contribute to cycle of violence.
Now if one may ask them directly they may come up with thousands of pretexts for such criminal behavior and believe me they may convince us all by their false logic about the necessity of such evil acts. But killing of unarmed protesters remains an indefensible act. So the fact remains the same forces have failed to bring peace and stability to Kashmir and instead have largely contributed to the violence there.
Is J&K police just a lathi force, only established to abuse, beat and kill people. Can J&K Police never have a relook into the strategy being used in Kashmir. Can they all stop looking at the Kashmir and Kashmiris from the barrel of gun? And the bigger question is that do their age old strategies change people?
While reading a book on interpersonal relation by Dale Carnegie I found something very interesting which is like Business executives have learned that it pays to be friendly to strikers. For example, when 2,500 employees in the White Motor Company’s plant struck for higher wages and a union shop, Robert F. Black, then president of the company, didn’t lose his temper and condemn and threaten and talk of tyranny and Communists. He actually praised the strikers. He published an advertisement in the Cleveland papers, complimenting them on “the peaceful way in which they laid down their tools. Finding the strike pickets idle, he bought them a couple of dozen baseball bats and gloves and invited them to play ball on vacant lots. For those who preferred bowling, he rented a bowling alley. This friendliness on Mr. Black’s part did what friendliness always does: it begot friendliness. So the strikers borrowed brooms, shovels, and rubbish carts, and began picking up matches, papers, cigarette stubs, and cigar butts around the factory. Imagine it! Imagine strikers tidying up the factory grounds while battling for higher wages and recognition of the union. Such an event had never been heard of before in the long, tempestuous history of American labor wars. That strike ended with a compromise settlement within a week-ended without any ill feeling or rancor. Surprising is this story, but true.
The strategies presently used by security forces in Kashmir will only lead to alienation of the community from the police and there will be no end to the violence, strikes and curfews and peace in such a scenario will be a distant reality. A relook into their law and order strategies is a must, a new approach of dealing with people, a new approach of dealing with crowd and protestors, an understanding of crisis intervention, an understanding of the psyche and nature of people, an understanding of the psyche of youth, and insight into nature of human thinking, emotions, personality and behavior is a significant necessity.
Imran Khan
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