Early Times Report
Jammu, June 4: Retired Lt Gen Prakash Katoch has came down heavily on New Delhi's approach towards stone-pelters in Kashmir. "The manner in which India deals with stone-pelters is cowardice; it encourages them to indulge in such activities, and earn money in doing so," he on Monday opined.
Gen Katoch also questioned the manner in which J&K Police prepared its report on 43 encounters which took place between November 2016 and April 2018 in which 77 militants were killed. He said that while the report does suggest multiple circumstances that draw a correlation between militants killed in encounters and new inductions, it is silent on many issues.
"The report is silent on many issues like: first, what is the population growth rate in the Valley and the corresponding unemployment rate - after all Burhan Wani himself wanted to join the Indian Army and hundreds line up whenever there is army recruitment; second, where, how, and by whom is the radicalization taking place - including in mosques, schools/madrassas; third, have those inciting the youth been identified (without mentioning names) and have any actions been taken to deter them from carrying out such activities; fourth, what's the status of the de-radicalization programme, if any; fifth, there's no mention of stone-pelters, their numbers, support base, ineffective counter-actions, etc".
"Only to say 'militancy in no way seems to have taken a back seat' without suggesting what needs to be done is abject surrender," is not really a right approach, the General has said.
The questions General Katoch has raised are very valid. One can only hope that the J&K Police would sit up and reflect on the five questions the General raised.
One can also hope and pray that the Narendra Modi Government would also review what happened in Kashmir after the announcement of Ramzan ceasefire on May 16. It's a must considering the fact that the Kashmir and security forces, especially CRPF witnessed more terror attacks during the Ramzan ceasefire. It needs to be underlined that while Kashmir witnessed 12 terror attacks between May 1 and May 15, the Valley witnessed 23 terror attacks after May 16, which means two time increase in the terror-related incidents. |
