From KO Archives-Compulsive SF Driving At 80-120-Kmph To Escape Grenade Attacks

SRINAGAR —The spontaneity of the violent response to the accident in which an alleg­edly speeding army vehicle crushed to death a 2-year old child at Baramulla on Saturday manifested the growing public concern over the manner in which the security forces have been treating the civilian popu­lation in the border district, as perhaps elsewhere in the valley. But for the timely intervention – by police, the driver was reportedly about to be lynched by irate mobs. Pulling down their shut­ters, shopkeepers had poured into the busy square to foil his attempt to speed away after the mishap.

Family sources told Observer News Service the tragic event had cast its shadows a couple of days earlier. Sharif-ud-din Bhat, the bereaved father, had dreamt his aunt who passed away a fort­night ago, giving him a consol­ing pat on the back. On Satur­day morning, the tiny toddler had clung to him, rather unusu­ally, said sobbing Bhat. And, it was for the first time, Mehmooda, the mother, took the child to her office because her mother-in-law was unwell. She had given her a bath and dressed her up nicely for the maiden visit. Little did she know it was the baby’s last journey?

According to the locals, reck­less driving by security forces through the busy marketplace has become a rule rather than an occasional aberration. One more precious life was lost in circumstances similar to Satur­day’s and almost at the same spot recently. They said most security force vehicles were in the habit of driving at a break­neck speed and seldom cared for the passersby, Often, they have a jawan standing out from the front seat, whistling and bran­dishing a stick to scare pedes­trians away from the road.

Expressing their concern, lo­cals said walking down the marketplace had become too perilous for the people, particu­larly school-going children. At least five high and higher sec­ondary schools and a woman college are located in the area.

These are the town high school, government higher secondary school for boys, St Joseph’s higher secondary school, Guru Nanak school and government girls higher secondary school. With all these institutions open­ing and dosing around the same time, thousands of boys and girls are on a simultaneous move in the civil lines area dur­ing peak hours.

Official sources said the town did not have any traffic police to regulate vehicular movement in the bazaar or at crossings. A handful of policemen from local lines or police station are all that are en­trusted with the task. Given the way the security force vehicles pass by, even they are seen run­ning for safety lest they find themselves on the receiving end. Instead of imparting even a semblance of discipline on the drivers, they are generally seen chasing people away from the road, great service, indeed.

More disturbing, however, is the report that the drivers of security force vehicles have to maintain a high speed between 80 and 120 km per hour to escape possible grenade attacks. It is this compulsive speed that has become a traffic hazard. Sources said 4-1/GR, the forma­tion to which the ill-fated Shaktiman vehicle belonged, was expected to take over secu­rity of the town from Thursday. Being shifted from Sopore, its units would be deployed at what are known as Dairy Farm, Wa­ter point and Stadium camps. On Saturday, the vehicle was carrying the luggage of person­nel to die Stadium camp, as part of ‘casual’ shifting, ahead of the formal take over.

Taking cognizance of the dicey traffic situation in the town, the deputy commissioner, Sheikh Muhammad Hussain, has initi­ated several measures to prevent recurrence of such tragedies. Talk­ing to Observer News Service, he said 14 speed-breakers would be raised between the dak bungalow and Khanapora to impart sanity to vehicular traffic Zebra cross­ings would be provided at various points and proper sign hoards put wherever needed especially near schools. Hussain said the garrison road, which had been dosed to vehicular traffic years ago (per­haps, for no plausible reason), would be reopened after metal patching and repairs to provide another link to the market and to ease traffic congestion.

Obviously, the authorities: Civil, police and security- will have to address the situation in a more comprehensive way rather than tackling it in a half-hearted and disjointed manner. With a civil­ian government at the helm, peo­ple would expect enforcement of the rule of law without any reser­vation or consideration for who drives the vehicle.

  (Kashmir Observer, May 31, 2000)

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