Stop maligning the Indian army by revisiting the human shield controversy Daily O 27 Sep 17
Post the state police report of Ahmed Dar, who was tied to the jeep having voted earlier being released, army baiters have again begun revisiting the Gogoi controversy. The officer is once again being maligned for an action which saved lives, with no logic. These anti-army critics have been viewing the police report with a myopic vision, failing to comprehend the complete realities.
While the report stated that Ahmed Dar had indeed voted at his home constituency and was passing through the region when he was picked up by the army and tied to the jeep, it never mentioned whether he threw stones or not. That is impossible for the police to confirm, as everyone within range of the army vehicle was indulging in pelting stones and even commenced throwing petrol bombs.
Is it impossible to vote and not throw stones subsequently, when your peers are present and doing the same? Was he at the site and witnessing stone throwing akin to watching a football or cricket match? Even if he was doing so, as he claimed, then why was he at the forefront? He should have been safely at the rear, away from harms way. Is it possible that to hide the fact that he had voted and to indicate that he was part of the crowd that he too resorted to pelt stones, in a similar manner?
None of these issues have been answered by the police report, as it is nigh impossible to do so. Hence to draw conclusions is only the handiwork of those who have never experienced violence in front of their eyes and attempted to save lives through the violence. Sitting in the comfort of airconditioned drawing rooms, it is easy to comment, but once having experienced it, they would change minds.
Subsequent NIA and ED investigations have proved that all such violent incidents against the army were being funded by the separatists. The incidents reduced drastically post demonetization and have almost come to a standstill post the NIA and ED crackdowns. Shabir Shah and his ilk have openly admitted to funding every incident of violence. Hence, even if Ahmed Dar had voted and realized that an opportunity to make a few hundred were coming his way, he would have joined the masses. The police report has no comment on stone throwing, as everyone in the vicinity was indulging in it. Why should anti-army arm chair critics only grab a single line and jump to conclusions. Visualize the ground situation and then come to logical conclusions.
Realistically, the army would not have moved through the crowds in the melee of the stone throwing to pick a person from the distance solely to tie him. They neither had the time nor the opportunity as they were being targeted. Neither would Gogoi have a special affinity to Ahmed Dar’s face, to solely make him the target for the jeep.
The army column facing the brunt of stone throwing was fighting against time to rescue those trapped, while a few were involved in removing mud which had made the vehicle immobile. Petrol bombs were being thrown, hence time was of essence. Thus, would have grabbed the nearest stone thrower to add to confusion. The situation of the ground implied quick reaction and immediate action to save lives.
The person indulging in stone throwing and nearest to the vehicle would have been nabbed. This person happened to be Ahmed Dar. He would have been in the melee of stone throwers, close to the army, either encouraging the others, or participating wholeheartedly with them. To be a mute spectator, so close to the crowd makes no other logic or sense. The limelight which he got and the fact that he had the mark of having cast his vote, gave him an alibi, which he used to full advantage, including seeking claims from the state human rights commission.
The army is not in Kashmir to tie people and enjoy such the event. It was earlier battling the illegal money power of the separatists used to funding violence and Pak sponsored terrorism. It was facing the brunt from all directions, even from arm chair critics, firing with their pens from the comfort of airconditioned houses hundreds of kilometres away from the region, having never once witnessed violence with their eyes. The NIA crackdown has made the separatists ineffective, hence now it is battling Pak sponsored terrorists, whom it is burying daily. It is not an enemy of the people, but risking the lives of its own for the local populace and national integrity.
Gogoi’s Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was a small force, surrounded by a mob of over nine hundred, struggling against time and seeking to avoid casualties. It did its task admirably and the decision of the army chief to commend him was timely and appropriate. Let’s bury the incident and respect the army for its role and task, rather than just seek an opportunity to find fault with it and criticize it.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army