Is J&K govt's soft approach encouraging stone pelters?

Vicky Nanjappa ponders over who is to blame for a scenario such as Kashmir, where the government takes no stringent action against stone-pelters and they are pardoned

Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat made an appeal to the youth of Kashmir to stop supporting terrorists. Youth have been coming out in large numbers and pelting stones at the Indian armed forces personnel in the midst of an encounter with terrorists.

Despite appeals, the scenario has not changed. Who is to blame in such a scenario? Army officials say that law and order is a state subject. "Stone-pelters are pardoned by the state government and there is no stringent action that is ever taken. This has encouraged to come back on the streets. Moreover when militant funerals are held, scores of people gather -- yet no action is taken. The government should stop backing such elements and stand by the army," the officer who sounded furious said.

The disturbing trend of the locals attending militant funerals in the valley does not seem to die down. An officer in the valley says that the people tend to attend such funerals in large numbers especially when the militant is a local. There is no logic or justification, but it continues to happen. Moreover, in the midst of an operation, locals gather around the encounter site and pelt stones at the security forces. The police too are helpless. They have clear instructions from the government not crack down on these youth. When such instructions are issued, then the hands of the police personnel are tied.

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Moreover there have also been several instances when cases are not filed against these youth who pelt stones, vandalise property, give gun salutes to slain terrorists.

Giving them a chance:

The Indian Army always gives local militants a chance to surrender. There have been several such instances when a militant is holed up he is given a chance to surrender. When the militant has refused to surrender, the army brings the family members in a bid to coax him to give up arms.
However, some militants refuse to surrender and the security forces have no option but to engage them in battle. The killing of Burhan Wani (/india/why-killing-hizbul-terrorist-burhan-wani-was-absolutely-necessary-2149598.html)became the reason for the Kashmir unrest that began on July 9 2016. Since then it has become a trend for locals to attend militant funerals.

Take the case of Raees Ahmad Dar, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba militant who was gunned down in Kakpora last year. Crowds had come in large numbers and even raised pro-azadi slogans. The death of Abu Qasim, the dreaded LeT militant also witnessed similar scenes. The man with a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head was given a hero's good bye by the people of Kulgam. Thousands in all age groups turned up at his funeral and mourned his death. Women were wailing and the impression that one got after witnessing this was that a terrorist had been turned into a martyr.

Qasim's case is even more ironic, considering he was a Pakistani.

OneIndia News