- The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is on the boil over the last few weeks cannot be disputed nor contested. As the winter months are already upon the region, the Pakistani terrorist factory will make every attempt to infiltrate more terrorists into our territory to create disturbances by adopting every conceivable dubious means. As the perpetually battered Afghanistan has fallen into the hands of the Taliban fundamentalists, it was always anticipated that J&K will be targeted by the Pakistan-sponsored mercenaries in due course. The recent spurt in innocent civilian killings in the valley corroborates this fact in a bloody manner disturbing the largely peaceful past several months.
PC: Arvind Ojha
- The administration is gearing up to counter the scourge, though. As the situation appears dicey on the ground, the law enforcement agencies are on the alert to thwart unlawful acts. Adding a twist to the already simmering atmosphere comes the news about some students in two medical colleges in Srinagar allegedly raising slogans in support of Pakistan following India’s loss to Pakistan during Sunday’s T20 World Cup cricket match. The police have registered two cases against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act which prima facie appears reactionary over-reach.
- Make no mistake, Pakistan’s military-jihadi complex is a threat to India, but a few people in India supporting Pakistan in cricket, especially when they completely outplayed us, is not. The moot point to ponder over here is whether this was a spontaneous response on those students’ part or was it a result of a larger plan or plot to instigate trouble in a state where the trouble is never in short supply. If it was the former, applying UAPA, a controversial and draconian law meant to deal with terror, is a clear case of over-reach. If it was the latter, careful and credible investigation needs to be done to substantiate the police’s theory.
PC: Minhaz Merchant
- Mind you, this investigation must be seen to establish that something other than supporting a cricket team was at play. Minus that, any police action will not only violate the principle of personal liberty, but it will also ironically make the state’s job of winning hearts and minds in J&K even more difficult than it already is. Therefore, the Union Government should tread cautiously here to ensure the interests of those who wish India harm by toting the popular narrative in Kashmir viewing the Indian state as an unfair and overbearing entity is effectively thwarted. Focusing on provisioning job opportunities as well as ensuring government benefits reaches the intended beneficiaries to guide the youths into the mainstream will serve better.
- Blunt and penal actions will serve little in spreading goodwill amongst the people of the valley as well as falling into the trap of inimical elements who wish to spread terror and unhappiness. Battling every dirty trick that Pakistan terror planners come up with effectively alongside firm resolve to integrate the valley into the mainstream should be our goal. Thus, the state must not only fight terrorists but also be smart and sensitive while dealing with locals. Antagonizing the already frayed nerves would only yield counterproductive results which will not suit our aim one bit.
