The other side of the Kashmir story The Statesman 25 Apr 17
The recent by polls in Srinagar and resultant videos dominated news headlines for all the wrong reasons. Holding elections in a strife torn region was a wrong decision to start with. Even the state had protested to the Election Commission (EC). However, for the EC and the government, it was a tough choice. Delaying elections would give the opposition including the National Conference (NC) and pro-Pak separatists more ammunition, claiming India differentiates Kashmir from the rest. Prepoll violence, a day before, when eight protestors were killed in police firing and scores including police and CRPF personnel injured should have been the trigger to call of elections. EC failed to read the scenario and act in time, resulting in only seven percent polling. With time this would haunt the government.
A flood of videos began emerging, some showing security personnel’s containing agitators and some of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and police personnel being heckled, manhandled and assaulted by locals. However, the video which grabbed national headlines, resulting in widespread debates and writings, containing contrary views, was the video of a local, Farooq Ahmed Dar, being tied to the front of a jeep. Most critics of the action termed it as ‘employment of a human shield by the army’. Amongst the critics were also few veterans, who opined that this video would haunt the army for ages. Opposition parties and armchair strategists termed it as shameful for the army, some claiming that the army has become anti-national and lost the goodwill of the locals.
However, within the nation, from all walks of life, the army received immense support. The nation stood as one in support of the young major who took this decisive step, irrespective of those who criticized. The hierarchy of the army and the government took a firm decision to support him. However, as a routine and possibly to strengthen its stand for any future legal engagement, the army has ordered a Court of Inquiry (COI) to enquire into the circumstances leading to the incident.
For those who pass judgements in haste and resort to bashing organizations only to project a ‘holier than thou image’, it is essential to understand the circumstances under which the incident occurred. Many versions are afloat, however for a layman the situation can be easily explained. It was election day and violence was in the air. Mobs were moving around, targeting polling booths, preventing people from voting and attacking security personnel at random.
As per EC ruling, security to polling booths is to be provided by CAPF and local police. The army is only in an area domination role, to prevent any militant attack. In one polling booth in Budgam, ITBP and police personnel were surrounded by a violent, screaming mob of over five hundred, threatening them. There was fear that they could be lynched. They appealed to the army for assistance and the army reacted. A Quick Reaction Team (QRT) under a major, in the vicinity, was tasked to rescue the trapped personnel.
Here is where there is a variation on what transpired. Some claim that the individual was picked up while returning from voting, while the army version states that he was one of the stone throwers and hence detained. The version irrespective, the situation was grave. The QRT was small and light, the mob large. Under normal circumstances, the trapped personnel of CAPF and police, feeling threatened by the mob, could have opened indiscriminate firing in self-defence, resulting in casualties, however, ultimately the mob would have prevailed and they would have become casualties, possibly even killed.
The officer would have been compelled to break into this mass of violent humanity only by opening fire, thus adding to casualties. Such an incident would have been headlines across the globe and made the day for Pakistan, as it could internationalize Indian highhandedness.
This innovative solution employed by the officer, at the spur of the moment, created a sudden fear psychosis amongst those surrounding the booth, that they opened a path for him, thus enabling rescue of the trapped staff without a shot being fired. This ingenious action prevented a catastrophe. The tied individual was taken back to the military camp, offered a cup of tea and then handed over to his village sarpanch, unharmed and secure.
To make a mountain out of this incident, was unwarranted. To compare the army to an occupation force, is unjustified. To blame it for being highhanded, is incorrect. These accusations flew from the pen and statements of those who have never tried to analyse the circumstances faced by the team moving in to rescue trapped brethren, only doing their assigned duty. If the army is being considered highhanded then the mob which surrounded the booth and threatened personnel inside, were no saints. Similarly, those which insulted and attacked CAPF personnel moving for polling duty, were not innocents. In a similar vein, those who pelt stones and interrupt operations against militants intentionally, enhancing army casualties, are no nationalists, nor are they simply misguided youth, as termed by the opposition.
In any form of law, assaulting government staff on duty is a crime, hence must be acted against. Showing restraint, avoiding opening fire except as a last resort, accepting injuries and insults, security forces have faced the brunt. Had the NC leadership and local media been the saner elements and played a soothing card, seeking to wean away youth from the path of self-destruction, Kashmir would not have been at the crossroads as it now is. If opposition parties and local media consider politics and being anti-security forces as the end all, then they should be termed as anti-nationals. At this juncture, instead of playing politics and one-up-man-ship all and sundry need to join hands to defuse the situation, prevent loss of lives and injuries to youth. The youth are our future, they need to be educated, not turned against the state, misguided and made cannon fodder for Pakistan or their Hurriyat supporters.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army