B L Saraf
The unfortunate firing incident in Gool area of Ramban district consumed four human lives. Very rightly, it evoked resentment and indignation among various sections of the State’s populace . Whatever may be the provocation, death of unarmed civilians in a police firing is unacceptable . The loss of four precious human lives has added up to the list of thousands of innocents who have perished in the wanton killings of the last two decades. In normal times it is difficult to explain a killing. But then we aren’t living normal times. So , everybody who considers himself somebody has a readymade explanation. Some say the Ramban tragedy is the symptomatic of the larger problem faced by the J&K State, where every corner is a powder keg ready to explode any time. Unless the’ basic cause’ is removed, they argue, incidents like Gool will continue to happen. It is a tragedy that we find a basic difference – often contradictory– in the narrative of various sections of population to define the ‘ basic issue ‘. And whoever comes withhis kind of definition seems to have a point.
The space will not permit a discussion on various contours of the ‘ basic issue ‘. Suffice it to say that those who have invented the ‘ basic issue ‘ in a chosen form , can’t have its resolution their way. The geographic and demographic complexities of the State, international permutations/calculations and the regional realties won’t allow it. Something has to said on the Gool tragedy. As stated , the deaths of the civilian protestors cannot be condoned. The incident , however, needs to be analysed in the backdrop of the terrorist activities which have been rebuilding in Kashmir in the past couple of months. Army convoy was attacked in the outskirts of Srinagar, half a dozen JK police personal were killed across the Valley, a noted physician is battling for life consequent upon a terrorist attack on him , wherein his two local police guards lost lives and aHimayat beneficiary – a central sponsored scheme to tackle the unemployment problem in the Valley – was gunned down in Sopore . Thus a situation waiting to be exploited stood created by those to whom the continued spell of peace in the State sounds death knell . In such a situation a kind of helplessness creeps in the mind of the security forces and they tend go berserk. Though in case of trained and disciplined forces the unruly behaviour can’t be accepted. The unfortunate Gool like incidents come handy to the disruptive elements. No wonder we notice a sense of elation among the militants and their sympathisers in the death of innocent Gool residents , wherein they see an opportunity to fan the dying flames of militancy in the State.
It is inappropriate to draw parallels only to belittle the effect of tragedy that has befallen the grieved family, in consequence of an unfortunate event. However,on some occasions it becomes unavoidable. Commenting upon the disappearance and death of hundreds of young persons in Baluchistan ( Pakistan ) columnist Irfan Hussaain writes in Dawn ( Karachi ) ” It is usually thus in most insurgencies where organised Armies , frustrated by the elusive nature of their adversaries , tend to lash out at the local population who they suspect of harbouring militants. Hence the underground war has seen the disappearance of hundreds of young suspected militants , and the murder of non- Bloch civilians .” The analogy is not drawn to condone the Goolincident .It is for our friends in the Valley, who routinely draw inspiration from across the border, to see the things in a given situation.
We didn’t hear condemnation of the murderous assault on the respected cardiologist in Srinagar. For the record, some worthies did raise a feeble voice which , though , didn’t match the high pitched condemnation one often hears on the death of an armed militant . Some, in the Valley tried to explain the dastardly assault as an act of collateral damage, in the long drawn battle for the ‘ freedom’. Collateral damage can, also, occur while saving the innocents . It is a logical outcome of the atmosphere of hate and terror built up in the State since 1990 , wherein gun and not the reason rules supreme. But, all is not lost in the Valley. There are number of well-meaning persons in the Kashmir civil society and amongst the common citizenry who sincerely want the end of the bloodshed . It is true of Pakistan civil society also . Their effort must be reciprocated .
To those , who in J&K continue to repose faith in the gun, it must be read what the respected Pakistani columnist, referred above, had for the Bloch freedom fighters. In the same column he writes :” Another reality Bloch fighters need to face up to is that the Army and the state of Pakistan can sustain the current level of violence for a very long time . Just as the Indian Army has outlasted the Kashmiri freedom struggle , so too does the Pakistan military have the means and the will to absorb the relatively low causalities the nationalists can inflict .”The learned writer then makes a point that no country is willing to fight for an independent Baluchistan . That holds good for J &K also . Coming from a Pakistani scribe ,one hopes that our gun wielding friends will listen and abjure violence; stop fighting for a losing cause. Theymay have a grievance . Some people have issues with the Centre and the State governments. They can be sorted peacefully . The State should out with a positive response . Hopefully , then we will see the end of Gool like incidents .
The author is former District & Session Judge)
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