S S Mankotia
With the killing of Burhan Wani, a self styled Hizb commander, a small boy and an LTM, once again it seems 2011 like situation is repeating when more than 100 stone pelters were killed.
On Eid-ul-Fitr, The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir had announced amnesty to the stone pelters by withdrawing all the criminal cases against them. But it seems that it was one sided “Good Will Gesture”, because soon after that the situation in the Valley became so bad that dozens of stone pelters are killed and hundreds injured. Everyday it is in the news that center is sending more Para military forces to deal with the situation, which, in my opinion, is not likely to prove much useful as dealing law and order in Kashmir valley is totally different from dealing the same in parts of the country.
It seems that the authorities at the helm of affairs having concern to deal with the present situation are either incapable or non serious to deal with it and bring peace in the Valley at the time when the common Kashmiris have the opportunities to earn for the whole years livelihood during these 3/4 months being the tourist season and Shri Amarnath Ji yatra period.
The Govt must understand that this was a purely law and order situation arisen out of killing of a militant who had gained publicity and fame among the younger generation being a Poster boy. So after his killing, authorities should have acquired sufficient information well in advance through IB, CID and other sources as to its aftereffects including the areas of more concern. Upon information so gathered, the Govt should have taken required precautions well in advance not by deployment of Para military forces, but by involving local officers of Police, Revenue, Rural Department, Education Deptt etc to the lowest level, for using their good will with general public for keeping peace and harmony by fixing their areas of responsibility.
The deployment of CRPF and other paramilitary forces should have been avoided and the troops of Armed Police and IRP should have been deployed at all the affected areas to deal with the situation by use of professional skills of mob and riot control.
Presently state is having more than 32 Bns of IRP and JKAP, besides Auxillary Police. By not involving them in such situation in the Valley, the very purpose of raising so much Battalions is killed. I would suggest that in such situation the Govt should even withdraw Jammu based Battalions of JKAP and IR to Kashmir and replace them with CRPF and other PMF because CRPF and other PMF personnel are totally ignorant about the psyche of Kashmiris while dealing with law and order problem, where as IR and JKAP personnel mostly being the locals can well understand the protesters while dealing them in such sensitive situation.
Rather I would say that J&K Police as a whole i.e JKAP, IRP and District Police is expected to even take on with the terrorists independently without involving Army or other Para military forces, except in the extreme circumstances, because the terrorism in J&K State is now 20/25 years old and as such nothing is new to J&K Police. The J&K Police like other terrorists affected states viz Punjab should have its own well trained and well equipped troops to take on the terrorists independently when their number is reduced to few hundred in the whole state. For dealing with law and order problems, there is no point in deployment of para military forces in the Valley, who have no knowledge of the people, language and the area. I have also served in Kashmir valley for more than 5/6 years and found that dealing with general public of Kashmir is not that difficult but requires professional skills. For that I personally suggest the J&K Police to create an Aura of positivity and confidence by their deeds so that they enjoy respect in the general public, keeping in mind the very law of God “Cause and Effect” while doing so all the concerned from top to bottom need to introspect themselves everyday so as to find their drawbacks if any for taking corrective measures.
Authorities should not hesitate to talk to the Hurriyat people in such situation so that all the losses of human or otherwise can be attributed to them in case they do not co-operate.
Lastly, the CM is very bold and a dymatic lady, it is hoped that she would ensure total involvement and accountability of local Police and civil administration including Education Deptt which will definitely yield good result in bringing peace while dealing such law and order problem and shall go a long way in up keeping their credibility before the people they serve.
(The author is Retd S.P. former Jammu and Kashmir Police)
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