Return of the “unidentified gunmen”
Manohar Parrikar’s diatribe ‘to kill a terrorist by a terrorist’ is without merit and sense. The Defence Minister seems to be been making statements to give a post-feel-good-factor to the voters who chose the new sarkaar, after all the voters have to have ‘returns on investment’. Added remarks like Andhra ki mrichi and Indian Army’s diminished importance due to lack of wars (engagement) seem to further his article and therefore Indian defense’s article of faith – that we are high and mighty. The minister may satisfy his alter-ego and satisfy thousands of fans who somehow have been sharing mixed feelings of victimhood and assertion by making crass statements, what he needs to understand is that in a state that portrays itself to be wrapped in democratic attire military might is not a good idea.
For Bharatiya Janata Party (and all its grey right-wing shades) such assertion may bear fruit but for an establishment that is recognized internationally, it would only make people smirk. There is a day called Republic Day of India, celebrated on 26 January every year, when military generals and Parrikar may exhibit the military prowess. But on any other day this military power impinges upon the rights of civil democratic institutions.
Perhaps the defence minister is right that Indian soldiers have not gone to war and it has diminished their status. Why not give it a try? Is the minister only capable of war of words or does he seriously have faith and confidence in winning battles. While the entire world is caught up in the mess, one more war would make little difference. But before giving it a thought, perhaps people should understand and realize what it means to be in real war. Obviously war is not like a Hollywood movie that you see with pop corn on your side at weekends, no one can stand a war. Great nations and mighty armies have been swallowed by wars and the history has taught us just one lesson – both war and warmongering is not normal. A few days of breakdown in basic supplies like food make people sing a different tune. It is not all about bang-bang, such delusions on war can only be held by people who have least experience about them.
Kashmir’s Killing Spree
The killing spree in Kashmir is on. Surprisingly, the time coordinates seem to coalesce. It is like there is this writing on the wall that hunting season in Kashmir valley has begun. “Unidentified gunmen” who seem to be on a mission to carry out target killings with precision have resurfaced. Militants have outrightly denied any role, separatists are condemning them while as mainstream looks guarded, they even cross check their whispers before speaking anything in public. There is a larynx swell as militants as well as some separatists have raised the pitch in condemning the cycle of killings. The question – who is behind these killings – smells like a big fat rat fed on desi rice.
Eruption of violence with target killings witnessed in Kashmir valley has sounded the alarm. Four persons have been gunned down by unidentified armed men in just few days time. While the northern district of Kashmir that witnessed the bloodshed is reeling under fear, its effects can be felt in other districts as well. So far there are only conjectures as evidence falls short. Clean job, classic operations – that is something that needs to be bragged about! It is a coward’s act – to shoot in the back a defenseless man. Why doesn’t someone hail it as victory? Why wear glove and mask, let the nation honor these men. They even shot the dog, the brave men of good nation! Poor dog showed more courage and was killed. The dead dog is now a national hero in Kashmir, for nothing but courage, something its killers don’t have.
Ever since PDP and BJP formed the government, the sky has not been clear. Some sinister dark clouds have been pouring, so much that even in mid-June some people don’t come out for fear of downpour. The government glued by fevquick is poor quality, again desi made with two faces. The BJP part of the government secretly relishes chastisement policy while the PDP part is fighting for peace, progress and development – with empty coffers of course. On the fresh incidents of violence, the government and political leaders particularly seem to be distanced, like these killings are happening in planet earth while they are on mars.
Incidentally, the attacks followed another series of attacks on persons associated with telecom services. While the blame game may continue, gunning down people is not just something that can be tolerated by people.
In the last several years when panchayat members received threats and were under attack the mainstream political leaders were on the front in condemning the acts. There has been very poor response from the political leaders on recent killings that some months ago banged former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for not helping Kashmiri people when they were drowning. There is an eerie silence that does not augur well for peace in Kashmir. The pattern that is evolving seems to disown the ‘politically motivated’ angle. Far more damage is already done in the form of fear and violence that has gripped the people in valley.
The “unidentified” tag that previously used to be noted in politically motivated killings has a different target now. Killing has simply become elimination and the leaders of all camps are so dumb that they don’t have even words of condemnation.
The Message
A strong message needs to be given out, the message that the order can’t be brought by the barrel of the gun. Such misadventures have wrecked havoc in Kashmir, the experience being familiar. There is no justification to killing an unarmed person who means no danger to people or the state. If there are leaders who truly believe that they represent the people, they would come out as one to represent their (people’s) fears and apprehensions. Pushing Kashmir or the state back in the lap of violence, killing and torture would be a gross mistake. Nothing can be achieved by killing unarmed persons who do not even stand a chance to defend themselves, be them affiliated with any group or ideology. All this has to stop.
Question mark
In almost all militant incidents the forces in Kashmir are on toes and they do the manhunt themselves. Not this time, as it seems. This time it is the J&K Police on trails chasing the masked men. If it is handiwork of militants why aren’t agencies on the qui vive?
The military assertion and show-off to tame the angry lot looks like there is a link that is not altogether missing. At last the ‘goodwill’, called sadbhavna in Hindi, seems to have ended. Again, it smells like a big fat rat!
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